In cerebral ischemia, neurons and glia are deteriorated by various mechanisms including excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Thus, pharmacological blockade of multiple cytotoxic pathways would be a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ischemic injury. We recently identified a novel multi-potent neuroprotectant SP-8203. Pharmacological efficacy and action mechanism of SP-8203 were evaluated in rat transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Post-ischemic treatment (i.v.) of SP-8203 reduced cerebral ischemic injury in a dose-dependent manner (0.03 ~ 10 mg/kg) and at clinically relevant therapeutic time window (up to 12 h after ischemia onset). Similar efficacy was also obtained in beagle dogs subjected to permanent MCAO. Although it did not ameliorate the excitotoxicity, SP-8203 markedly reduced ischemia-evoked oxidative stress via up-regulation of anti-oxidant enzymes, specifically Mn-SOD and Cu/Zn-SOD, but not catalase and glutathione reductase. SP-8203 also reduced the infiltration of ED-1-immunopositive monocytes and MPO-positive neutrophils into ischemic brain lesions of rats. Moreover, SP-8203 significantly reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines (e.g. IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, MCP-1) and also the expression of iNOS and resultant formation of nitrotyrosine. Early (3 h) thrombolysis with tPA restored perfusion and reduced infarction in embolic rat models. However, late 6-h tPA did not decrease infarction, but instead increased intracerebral hemorrhage and mortality. Interestingly, SP-8203 treatment at 1.5 h before late (6 h) tPA infusion markedly reduced tPA-evoked cerebral hemorrhage and mortality. Blood levels of MMPs were significantly correlated with the changes of hemorrhage and mortality. Taken together, SP-8203 has multiple neuroprotective activities in cerebral ischemia: up-regulation of anti-oxidant enzymes, reduction of inflammatory cells recruitment, and suppression of anti-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and MMP expression. Thanks to the multiple neuroprotective mechanisms, SP-8203 could be a promising drug candidate for stroke treatment, especially in combination of tPA by extending therapeutic time window.