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.

Ginkgo biloba extract protects against alcohol-induced liver injury in rats.

Yuan G, Gong Z, Li J, Li X

Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei Province, China.

Ginkgo biloba extract has been shown to be hepatoprotective. However, its benefits when used in alcoholic liver injury have not been demonstrated. This study investigated the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on alcohol-induced liver injury in a chronic alcohol plus fish oil gavage model in rats.Liver injury was evaluated histologically and by serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Liver tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) protein levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) contents were determined. TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the liver was analysed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Rats given fish oil plus alcohol developed macrovesicular and microvesicular steatosis, spotty necrosis and mild inflammation in the liver and elevated serum ALT levels, which were accompanied by increased MDA contents, reduced GSH contents and elevated TNF-alpha protein and mRNA expressions in the liver. Supplementation with Ginkgo biloba extract (200 mg/kg, orally) improved the liver injury, blunted the rises of MDA contents and TNF-alpha expression, and restored the GSH content in the liver.Ginkgo biloba extract protects against alcohol-induced liver injury, and the mechanism may involve a reduction of lipid peroxidation, prevention of GSH depletion and inhibition of TNF-alpha expression in the liver. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Published 8 March 2007 in Phytother Res, 21(3): 234-8.
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