Salvianolic acid B recovers cognitive deficits and angiogenesis in a cerebral small vessel disease rat model via the STAT3/VEGF signaling pathway.

Salvianolic acid B is one of the key water‑soluble components of Salvia extract. It has been verified that salvianolic acid B possesses multiple pharmacological activities, it protects against myocardial infarction, however additionally improves injury of myocardial ischemia‑reperfusion. The present study, the possible effects of salvianolic acid B on cognitive deficits and angiogenesis in cerebral small vessel disease were investigated. Salvianolic acid B was identified to recover cognitive deficits and neurocytes, reduce inflammation, oxidative stress and neurocyte apoptosis (caspase‑3 and Bax protein expression) in cerebral small vessel disease rats. In addition, salvianolic acid B upregulated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation protein expression, and induced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 protein expression in cerebral small vessel disease rats. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that salvianolic acid B recovers cognitive deficits and angiogenesis in the cerebral small vessel disease rat model via STAT3/VEGF signaling pathway.