Ischemic stroke accounts for the majority of all strokes and has been primary causes of long-term disability and mortality in worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy suggests significantly improved effects on neurological functional outcome

neurogenesis

angiogenesis

blood-brain barrier permeability

inflammatory injury

neuroprotection and so on

following stroke. However

the occurrence of adverse effects results in restriction of the therapy. Chinese medicine accumulates abundant clinical experiences on stroke for over two thousand years

and some formulae and active ingredients of Chinese medicines have presented obvious efficacies in clinical treatment. Therefore

based on Chinese medicine theory

we provide some ideas of screening agents for combination treatment of Chinese medicines and MSC for ischemic stroke

and summarize the potentials of Chinese medicines in MSC treatment and analyze the feasibilities of Chinese medicines against side effects of MSC therapy. Consequently

we propose Chinese medicines combing with MSC should be a promising approach to clinical stroke treatment in future.