Chances of recovering from a stroke boosted by drug made from celery seeds: ... trends now
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The chances of recovering from a stroke have been boosted by a drug - made from celery seeds, according to new research.
Patients given the medication had less severe neurological symptoms and better mental skills than peers who received a placebo.
Co author Dr Baixue Jia, of the China National Clinical Research Centre for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, said: 'This is the first trial to show the benefit of using a medication that protects the brain from damage caused by a lack of oxygen to brain tissue.
'The medication was given to patients with acute ischaemic stroke who were also receiving treatment to restore blood flow to the brain.'
Butylphthalide is one of the chemical constituents in celery - responsible for its aroma and taste.
It had previously been shown to protect and preserve the brain from stroke damage in experiments on mice.
A drug made from butylphthalide, which comes from celery, can help boost a person's likelihood of having a full recovery from a stroke (file photo)
In China, butylphthalide is licensed for use in treating ischaemic strokes caused by vessel blockages.
It is administered by injection or pill - but not currently approved in the US or UK.
Dr Jia and colleagues studied 90-day outcomes in 1,216 stroke victims.
They were initially treated with
