AIM:To investigate the effects of ginkgetin on neurological deficit and angiogenesis induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(I/R)and its underlying mechanism.METHODS:Sixty SD rats were randomly allocated into three groups:sham group,I/R model group,and ginkgetin(40 mg/kg)treatment(I/R+ginkgetin)group,with twenty rats in each group.The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)rat model was employed to simulate cere-bral I/R,and ginkgetin was administered continuously for 7 days following reperfusion.The cerebral infarction volume was quantified using TTC staining.Neuronal density in the ischemic penumbra was assessed through Nissl staining and immu-nohistochemistry for neuron-specific nuclear protein(NeuN).Microvessel density and angiogenesis in the ischemic pen-umbra of each group were analyzed using CD31 labeling and BrdU/von willebrand factor(vWF)double labeling immuno-fluorescence staining.Western blot analysis was performed to determine the levels of heat shock protein 70(HSP70),vas-cular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),and hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)in the ischemic penumbra.RE-SULTS:Compared with the I/R model group,the cerebral infarction volume was significantly reduced in ginkgetin treat-ment group(P<0.01),the number of neurons,the microvessel density,angiogenesis and the expression levels of HIF-1α,VEGF,and HSP70 in the ischemic penumbra were significantly increased(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Ginkgetin exhibits the potential to augment angiogenesis and facilitate neurological function recovery in MCAO rats,while concur-rently upregulating the expression of HSP70,VEGF,and HIF-1α within the ischemic penumbra.