Combination of curcumin and vagus nerve stimulation attenuates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced behavioral deficits.

•Combination of curcumin and VNS alleviates CI/RI induced behavioral deficits.•Combination of curcumin and VNS reduces neurological deficits and infarct volume.•Combination of curcumin and VNS inhibits neurons apoptosis.•Combination of curcumin and VNS represses inflammatory cytokine secretion.•Combination of curcumin and VNS inactivates the AKT/ERK2 pathway.