ABSTRACT
The intestine is extremely sensitive to surgical stress. Surgical manipulation of the intestine generates oxygen free radicals resulting in mucosal damage. To evaluate the role of Ginkgo biloba in protection and restitution of mucosal damage of jejunum after laparotomy. Twenty four adult albino rats were divided into three groups. Group I as a control, group II subjected to laparotomy with mild intestinal handling and group III was injected I/P with as a single dose of 50 mg/kg of Ginkgo biloba solution 1 hour before laparotomy. All animals were sacrificed after 48 hs and jejunum specimens were extracted and processed for light and scanning electron microscopic study. Revealed that laparotomy induced shortening of the villi with mucosal damage and ballooning of Paneth cells. Some epithelial cells with atypical appearance were seen aggregated towards the luminal surface. Strong P53 reaction was observed in enterocytes. SEM revealed eroded luminal surface with wide gaps of epithelial loss. On the other hand, Ginkgo biloba showed a favorable protective effect with rapid healing of the damaged jejunal mucosa. Laparotomy induced jejunal mucosal damage, which was not repaired after 48 hs. Ginkgo biloba could be used as a protective agent against intestinal mucosal damage with a rapid recovery after surgical operation