Ginkgo biloba extract protects against mercury(II)-induced oxidative tissue damage in rats.

Full Abstract

Mercury(II) is a highly toxic metal which induces oxidative stress in the body. In this study we aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb), an antioxidant agent, against experimental mercury toxicity in rat model. Following a single dose of 5mg/kg mercuric chloride (HgCl(2); Hg group) either saline or EGb (150mg/kg) was administered for 5days. After decapitation of the rats trunk blood was obtained and the tissue samples from the brain, lung, liver, and kidney were taken for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and collagen contents. Formation of reactive oxygen species in the tissue samples was monitored by chemiluminescence (CL) technique. BUN, creatinin, ALT, and AST levels and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were assayed in serum samples. The results revealed that HgCl(2) induced oxidative damage caused significant decrease in GSH level, significant increase in MDA level, MPO activity and collagen content of the tissues. Treatment of rats with EGb significantly increased the GSH level and decreased the MDA level, MPO activity, and collagen contents. Similarly, serum ALT, AST and BUN levels, as well as LDH and TNF-alpha, were elevated in the Hg group as compared to control group. On the other hand, EGb treatment reversed all these biochemical indices. Our results implicate that mercury-induced oxidative damage in brain, lung, liver, and kidney tissues protected by G. biloba extract, with its antioxidant effects.

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Author information

Author/s: Sener, Göksel (G); Sehirli, Ozer (O); Tozan, Ayfer (A); Velioglu-Ovunç, Ayliz (A); Gedik, Nursal (N); Omurtag, Gülden Z (GZ);

Affiliation: Marmara University, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Istanbul, Turkey. gokselsener(-atsign-)hotmail.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (Food Chem Toxicol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 45 (issue 4) : pp 543-50

Dates: Created 2007/02/12; Completed 2007/04/24;

PMID: 17267089, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Alanine Transaminase - blood
Animals
Antioxidants - pharmacology
Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Female
Ginkgo biloba
Glutathione - analysis

Glutathione - analysis
Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects
Male
Malondialdehyde - analysis
Mercury - toxicity
Plant Extracts - pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Wistar

Associated Chemicals: Antioxidants (0) ; Plant Extracts (0) ; Malondialdehyde (542-78-9) ; Glutathione (70-18-8) ; Mercury (7439-97-6) ; Aspartate Aminotransferases (EC 2.6.1.1) ; Alanine Transaminase (EC 2.6.1.2)

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