Ginkgo Biloba Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ginkgo Biloba, including details on ginkgo biloba, herbal remedies, side effects, benefits.

Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on cell proliferation, cytokines and extracellular matrix of hepatic stellate cells.

Zhang C, Zhu Y, Wan J, Xu H, Shi H, Lu X

Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan Shandong, China.

Background/Aims: Hepatic fibrosis is the common wound-healing response to chronic liver injury. Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) has been indicated to reverse hepatic fibrosis and exhibit therapeutic effects both in vitro and in vivo. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of GbE using HSC-T6 cells, a subline of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) as a model. Methods: HSC-T6 cells were seeded into six-well plates and allowed to attach overnight. After exposure to different concentrations of GbE761 for 24 or 48 h, cell cycle analysis, semiquantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting analysis and analysis of ECM secretion were performed. Results: It was revealed that GbE (1, 10, 100, 500 mg/l) suppressed HSC proliferation and caused G(0)/G(1) phase arrest in a concentration-dependent manner. RT-PCR and Western blot assays were applied to detect the decline of transforming growth factor beta(1)(TGF-beta(1)) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in both mRNA and protein levels after GbE treatment in HSC-T6 cells for 24 or 48 h. Meanwhile, GbE inhibited the synthesis of type I and type III collagens. Secretion of some extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, such as type III procollagen (PC III), type IV collagen (collagen IV), laminin (LN), hyaluronic acid (HA), were all decreased in supernatant of GbE treated HSC cells. Conclusions: Our results suggest that GbE confers its anti-fibrosis effects through inhibiting HSC proliferation, reducing TGF-beta(1) and CTGF expression and consequently suppressing the collagen production and ECM secretion.

Published 19 November 2006 in Liver Int, 26(10): 1283-90.
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