Researchers found that minocycline, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections, acne, and infections of skin, genital, and urinary systems, may also be used to reduce the damages of stroke in the brain and blood vessels.

Minocycline appears to reduce stroke damage in multiple ways - inhibiting white blood cells and enzymes that, at least acutely, can destroy brain tissue and blood vessels, respectively, says Dr. David Hess, chair of the Department of Neurology in the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine. The broad-spectrum antibiotic also seems to reduce cell suicide in the minutes and hours following a stroke, enabling more cells to recover.

Clinical trials are currently being planned.