Effect of ginkgo biloba extract on livers in aged rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effect of ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on livers of aged rats and the associated mechanisms.


METHODS
Two-mo- and 20-mo-old rats were treated with GBE/saline for 3 mo. Liver tissue samples from 5-mo-old rats treated with saline (group Y) and 23-mo-old rats treated with GBE (group E) or saline (group N) were used for histopathological examinations (hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining, Lipofuscin staining-Schmorl staining) and determination of expression of tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Blood samples were collected for determination of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL) and albumin.


RESULTS
Microscopic studies with Masson staining revealed mild liver fibrosis in aged rats (group N), while the livers of aged rats receiving GBE (group E) showed amelioration in fibrosis (2.2+/-0.1 vs 2.8+/-0.1, P<0.01) and deposition of lipofuscin (33.7+/-5.3 vs 62.8+/-5.7, P<0.01). The expression of TIMP-1 and the level of liver MDA (1.0+/-0.1 vs 1.2+/-0.2, P<0.05) also decreased but the activity of GPx (97.1+/-15.3 vs 61.8+/-14.5, P<0.01) increased in group E. Compared with group Y, the level of liver MDA (0.8+/-0.1 vs 1.2+/-0.2, P<0.01), lipofuscin (32.4+/-6.0 vs 62.8+/-5.7, P<0.01) and TIMP-1 expression were increased, while the activity of GPx (103.2+/-17.6 vs 61.8+/-14.5, P<0.01) and SOD (16.7+/-4.4 vs 11.8+/-3.9, P<0.05) was decreased in group N. There was no difference in liver function among these three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
GBE has protective effects on aging liver. The possible mechanisms might be its antioxidant activity and inhibition of TIMP-1 expression.
Huang
Shang-Zhen
SZ
Department of Geriatrics, Wuhan General Hospital, Guangzhou Command of PLA, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
Luo
Yan-Jun
YJ
Wang
Li
L
Cai
Ke-Yin
KY
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D005609:Free Radicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase