Brusatol treatment abolished the neuroprotective effect of NPGE. (A, B) TTC stained brain slices showing infarct volume (white), and the infarct volume was measured in the mice after CIRI, n = 5. (C) Neurological scores, n = 5. (D) Cell viability of HT22 cells after OGD/R, n = 9. (E) Representative immunofluorescence images of NeuN–positive cells and GPX4–positive cells in the penumbra region after CIRI, n = 5, scale bar, 50 μm. (F) Western blotting analysis of NRF2, HO–1, GPX4, NLRP3 and HMGB1 in the ischemic penumbra tissue after CIRI, n = 5. (G) Western blotting analysis of NRF2, HO–1, GPX4 NLRP3 and HMGB1 in HT22 cells after OGD/R, n = 3. (H–J) The levels of IL–1β, IL–6 and TNF–α in the brain after CIRI, n = 5. (K, L) The levels of Fe2+ and GSH in the brain after CIRI, n = 5. (M–O) The levels of IL–1β, IL–6 and TNF–α in HT22 cells after OGD/R, n = 3. (P, Q) The levels of Fe2+ and GSH in HT22 cells after OGD/R, n = 3. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.