Vascular endothelial growth factors （VEGF） family plays a significant role in the development of cerebral infarction. It has been found that different subtypes of VEGF are involved in the process of angiogenesis， nutrient metabolism， lymphangiogenesis， neuroprotection， and inflammation inhibition during brain injury. This family-specific biological role provides a new idea for the treatment of cerebral infarction. This article reviews the corresponding roles of various subtypes of vascular endothelial growth factor in the development of cerebral infarction， and at the same time， the ongoing efforts to address these hotspot targets of VEGF and their limitations in therapeutic terms have been highlighted.