[Abstract] Background Stroke is a kind of the refractory, common disease which is a serious threat to human health and life safety. It is not only high incidence and high morbidity as well as high mortality, and most of the patients after onset would leave over different degrees of mental state changes, so it is one of science problems in the current medical field. Retinoic acid (RA), a derivative of vitamin A and a strong differentiation inducer. Studies confirm that RA play an important role in the cells morphogenesis, proliferation and differentiation, apoptosis and metabolism, immune regulation. Along with the deepening of the research for retinoic acid , the effect used for nerve protection came to the attention of the people in recent years. Objective This article presents an overview of current knowledge of RA in cerebral protection and mechanisms. Content This review concisely describe the research status of cerebral apoplexy and the physiological function of RA as well as its receptors, following to focus on the possible targets and mechanisms of RA as well as its role in brain protection. Trend Through explaining the physiology and protection mechanism of RA in the central nervous system，it would be helpful to provide the scientific basis and theoretical support for treating clinical stroke patients in the future.