Neuroinflammation plays an important role in vascular dementia(VD). Our previous work showed that mammalian Ste20-like kinase 1 (MST1) and the gene for a downstream transcription factor, FOXO3, play major roles in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced apoptosis in hippocampal neurons. The neurotoxic effects of LPS are derived from its ability to cause an inflammatory response. We also previously showed that Tanshinol (TSL) provides neuro-protection in a rat model of VD. The present study further explores the effects of TSL on the neuroinflammatory aspects of VD and investigates whether TSL affects the MST1-FOXO3signaling pathway. VD was induced in rats using transient bilateral coronary artery occlusion. Interleuldn(IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay kits. Cell apoptosis was assessed by Hoechst 33342 staining. Protein and mRNA levels were evaluated by western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. TSL improved working memory and significantly inhibited plasma and hippocampal protein levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in a rat model of VD. LPS induced apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and increasedMST1 and p-FOXO3 protein expression, whereas MST1 siRNA transfection almost completely reversed LPS-induced neuronal apoptosis, indicating that LPS-induced cytotoxicity in hippocampal neurons is associated with MST1. TSL protected against LPS-induced cell apoptosis and suppressed IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-a mRNA and protein expression as well as MST1 and p-FOXO3 protein expression in neurons. The present study provided novel mechanisms by which TSL exerts its neuroprotective activity and indicates that TSL may be a potential neuro-protective agent in VD. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.