Inhibit free radical-mediated DNA damage by ginkgo biloba extract

The presence of plant extract of Ginkgo biloba in the reaction mixture containing calf thymus DNA and free radical generating system protect DNA against oxidative damage to its deoxyribose sugar moiety. The effect was dependent on the concentration of plant extract. These studies suggest that the observed hepatoprotective effect of this plant extract may be due to their ability to suppress the oxidative degradation of DNA in the tissue debris

Ginkgo biloba extract [EGb761] normalizes hypertension in 2K, 1C hypertensive rats: roles of antioxidant mechanisms, ACE inhibiting activity and improvement of endothelial dysfunction

In the 2 kidney, 1-clip [2K, 1C] experimental renovascular hypertension, the early phase of elevation of blood pressure is associated with increase in plasma renin activity, and circulating angiotensin II which exerts a vasoconstrictor effect and increases aldosterone production. However, the progression and maintenance of the elevated blood pressure is mediated, in part, by angiotensin II-induced production of reactive oxygen species [ROS] which may promote endothelial dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to examine the possible antihypertensive effect of a standardized extract of Gingko biloba [EGb 761] in 2K,1C renal hypertensive rats and try to correlate it with the effect of the extract on oxidant status, ACE activity and vascular reactivity towards several vasoactive agents. Hypertension was induced using silver clip on renal artery by surgery. Four weeks after surgery, two sets of experiments were preformed. In the first set five groups of rats were selected; Sham-operated control, hypertensive control, and three hypertensive groups treated with the EGb 761 extract at 3 dose levels [60, 90, and 180 mg/kg/day; po] respectively for three weeks. Systolic blood pressure [SBP], heart rate [HR], lipid peroxidation measured as malondialdehyde [MDA], gIutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px] activity, nitric oxide [NO] level and angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] activity were determined in blood, the ischemic kidney and the non-clipped contra-lateral kidney homogenates. In the second set of experiments three groups of animals were selected; Sham-operated control, hypertensive control, and hypertensive group treated with the EGb 761 [180 mg/kg/day; po] for three week after which the animals were sacrificed, the thoracic aortae isolated and prepared as rings for testing their reactivity towards the vasoactive agents norepinephrine [NE], acetyicholine [Ach], and sodium nitroprusside [SNP]. Results showed that clipping of the renal artery significantly elevated the SBP which reaches a plateau after 4 weeks, without any significant change in the HR. MDA significantly increased in serum and the clipped kidney. GSH-Px significantly decreased in the ischemic kidney while it was significantly elevated in serum and the contra-lateral kidney. NO level as well as ACE activity significantly increased in both kidneys without being affected in blood. There was impairment in both endothelium-dependent and independent relaxation of aortic rings towards Ach and SNP respectively. Treatment with EGb for 3 weeks produced a dose-dependent reduction in the SBP of the hypertensive rats and succeeded to normalize it with the highest dose level [180 mg/kg/day]. This antihypertensive action was associated with recovery of GSHPx activity in the ischemic kidney, inhibition of ACE activity in both kidneys, reduction of elevated NO in the non-clipped kidney, decreased responsiveness to the vasoconstrictor NE and improvement of endothelial function as evidenced by restoration of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation induced by Ach