Ginkgo biloba extract reverses CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the reversing effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on established liver fibrosis in rats.


METHODS
Following confirmation of CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis, GbE or saline was administrated to the rats for 4 weeks. The remaining rats received neither CCl(4) nor GbE as normal control. The four groups were compared in terms of serum enzymes, tissue damage, expression of alphaSMA and tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) and metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1).


RESULTS
Compared with saline-treated group, liver fibrosis rats treated with GbE had decreased serum total bilirubin (P<0.01) and aminotransferase levels (P<0.01) and increased levels of serum albumin (P<0.01). Microscopic studies revealed that the livers of rats receiving GbE showed alleviation in fibrosis (P<0.05) as well as expression of alphaSMA (P<0.01). The liver collagen and reticulum contents were lower in rats treated with GbE than saline-treated group (P<0.01). RT-PCR revealed that the level of TIMP-1 decreased while the level of MMP-1 increased in GbE group.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of GbE improved CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis. It is possibly attributed to its effect of inhibiting the expression of TIMP-1 and promoting the apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells.
Luo
Yan-Jun
YJ
Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei Province, China. lyj0019@sohu.com
Yu
Jie-Ping
JP
Shi
Zhao-Hong
ZH
Wang
Li
L
D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000737:chemistry*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D010936:Plant Extracts; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride