Objective To examine the clinical efficacy of dl-3n-butylphthalide (NBP) in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) and associated changes in serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).Methods A total of 80 patients with ACI were randomly divided into control (20 females and 20 males) and treatment groups (19 females and 21 males). In the control group, patients received conventional medication; in the treatment group, patients received NBP (soft capsules) on the basis of conventional medication. The clinical efficacy of NBP was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL). Serum VEGF, BDNF, and bFGF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in order to examine relevant changes in the two groups of patients before and after treatment.Results Serum VEGF, BDNF, and bFGF levels were significantly higher in both groups of patients after treatment than before treatment (P<0.01), and the increase was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.01). Similarly, the ADL score was significantly higher after treatment than before treatment (P<0.01), and the increase was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.01). In contrast, the NIHSS score was significantly lower in both groups of patients after treatment than before treatment (P<0.01), and the decrease was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.01).Conclusions NBP can significantly increase serum VEGF, BDNF, and bFGF levels in patients with ACI. This drug is safe and it has better efficacy than conventional drugs.