Effects of Ginkgo biloba on duodenal ulcer healing

Effects of Ginkgo biloba on duodenal ulcer healing in rats n This study was to investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on mucosal healing in duodenal ulcer rats. Sprague- Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (no ulcer without Ginkgo treatment), no ulcer with Ginkgo treatment, ulcer without Ginkgo treatment, and ulcer with Ginkgo treatment. Rats without ulcer were done by sham operation, and rats with duodenal ulcer were induced by 50% acetic acid. Rats with Ginkgo treatment were injected with Ginkgo biloba extract solution at a dose of 0. 5 mg/kg body weight/day from the tail vein, and rats without Ginkgo treatment were i. v. injected with the same amount of vehicle solution without Ginkgo. After 7 and 14 days, cytoprotective factors, including prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2) and Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD) activity, in duodenal mucosa were analyzed. Additionally, erythrocyte Cu, Zn-SOD activity and plasma lipid peroxides were measured to evaluate the oxidative damage in the plasma. The pathological results showed that mucosal healing and inflammation improved in ulcer with Ginkgo group compared with ulcer without Ginkgo group after 7 days. After 14 days, body weight of ulcer without Ginkgo group was lower compared with that of the control group. However, body weight of ulcer with Ginkgo group significantly increased compared with ulcer without Ginkgo group, but did not differ from that of the control group. Mucosal PGE 2 concentration significantly increased by 56% and 52% (p < 0. 05) in ulcer with Ginkgo group compared with ulcer without Ginkgo and the control groups, respectively, after 14 days. Additionally, after 14 days, mucosal and erythrocyte SOD activity significantly decreased in ulcer without Ginkgo group compared with the control group. However, mucosal SOD activity significantly decreased in without ulcer with Ginkgo group compared with the control group. Erythrocyte SOD activity significantly elevated in ulcer with Ginkgo group compared with ulcer without Ginkgo group, but did not differ from the control group. After 7 and 14 days, plasma lipid peroxides significantly increased in ulcer without Ginkgo group compared with the control group. With ulcer with Ginkgo group had lower lipid peroxides than ulcer without Ginkgo group. However, lipid peroxides significantly increased in without ulcer with Ginkgo group compared with the control group. The results suggested that ulcer did cause decreases in body weight, the healing rate of the mucosa, mucosal PGE 2 concentration, mucosal and erythrocyte SOD activity, and an increase in plasma lipid peroxides. Injected with Ginkgo biloba extract for 14 days, body weight, mucosal PGE 2 concentration, and erythrocyte SOD activity significantly increased, and plasma lipid peroxides significantly decreased in duodenal ulcer rats. Key words: Ginkgo biloba extract, duodenal ulcer, prostaglandin E 2, superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, rats