Neuroprotective actions of taurine on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats

•Taurine, a natural amino acid, exerts neuroprotective effect against cerebral hypoxic-ischemic damage in neonatal rats.•Taurine has demonstrated anti-oxidative effect on cerebral hypoxic-ischemic damage in neonatal rats.•Taurine regulates the Bcl-2/Bax balance on cerebral hypoxic-ischemic damage in neonatal rats.•Taurine inhibits AIF and Cyt c over expression on cerebral hypoxic-ischemic damage in neonatal rats.•Taurine may have potential as a little side-effect, safe and effective protective agent for newborn hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.