The effects of EGb 761 on lipid peroxide levels and superoxide dismutase activity in sunburn.
OBJECTIVE
Free oxygen radicals are involved in inflammatory skin reactions induced by ultraviolet B (UVB). In this study, the effect of a herbal antioxidant Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) was investigated in UVB irradiated mice skin.


METHODS
The study was carried out on four groups of mice (n = 6 in each group). The first group was a control group (G1). The second group (G2) was only exposed to acute UVB irradiation. The third group (G3) received 100 mg/kg/day of EGb 761 orally for 5 days before UVB irradiation and the fourth group (G4) was given only a single dose of EGb 761 immediately after UVB irradiation. Eighteen hours after exposing to UVB, lipid peroxide levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were studied and UVB damage was evaluated histopathologically according to "sun-burn cell count".


RESULTS
The SOD activities and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in G2, G3 and G4 were found to be decreased significantly when compared with G1 (P < 0.05). The SOD activities of G3 and G4 were higher when compared with G2 (P < 0.05). The number of sunburn cells (SBCs) was the highest in G2.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that EGb 761 may have an important effect, both as a protective and therapeutic agent, in sunburn after UVB irradiation.
Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty of Gaziantep University, Sarigulluk, Gaziantep/Turkey. aozkur@hotmail.com
Mehtap Kilinc
MK
Ozkur
Meral Sasoglu
MS
Bozkurt
Barbaros
B
Balabanli
Aysel
A
Aricioglu
Nilsel
N
Ilter
Mehmet Ali
MA
Gürer
H Serhat
HS
Inalöz
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D005609:Free Radicals; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
D005609:Free Radicals; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract