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Suppression of tissue necrosis factor-alpha or hydrogen peroxide-activated primary human T lymphocytes by Ginkgo biloba extract through down-regulation of activator protein-1 signal transduction.

Tsao TP, Lai JH, Yang SP, Ho LJ, Liou JT, Cheng CC, Cheng SM

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, No 325, Section 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu 114, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

PURPOSE: It was unknown whether Ginkgo biloba extract has regulatory effects on human T lymphocytes activated by tissue necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which has an important role on the progression of inflammatory atherosclerotic plaques. We evaluated the effects of G. biloba extract on activated human peripheral T lymphocytes, which were isolated from human whole blood. METHODS: The human T lymphocytes were treated with 25-100 microg G. biloba extract for 2h first. Then they were activated by TNF-alpha and H(2)O(2) to investigate the modulatory effects of G. biloba extract on human T lymphocytes. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay, Western blot (Immunoblot) analysis and immunoprecipitation kinase assays were used. RESULTS: The inhibition of activated human T lymphocyte specifically correlated with the down-regulation of AP-1 DNA-binding activities. G. biloba extract was unique in its ability to inhibit the activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase. CONCLUSIONS: G. biloba extract might have its novel therapeutic effects on inflammation-based atherosclerotic diseases.

Published 18 February 2008 in Phytomedicine, 15(3): 170-6.
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