title: Short-term oral ingestion of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) reduces malondialdehyde levels in washed platelets of type 2 diabetic subjects.
abstract: We have recently reported that ingestion of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) (a) significantly reduced collagen-induced platelet aggregation and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) production in both non-diabetic individuals as well as those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), (b) significantly reduced platelet malondialdehyde (MDA), an index of lipid peroxidation, in non-diabetic subjects. In the present study we report that ingestion of EGb 761 (120 mg daily for 3 months), significantly decreased platelet MDA-thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) (41 +/- 9 pmol/10(7) platelets versus 30 +/- 11 pmol/10(7) platelets) (p < 0.005) in T2DM subjects with normal cholesterol levels (total cholesterol, 164 +/- 22 mg/dl; age, 54 +/- 9 years; BMI, 35.0 +/- 8.8 kg/m2, n = 12). In T2DM subjects with high cholesterol (total cholesterol, 218 +/- 15 mg/dl; age, 52 +/- 5 years; BMI, 36.2 +/- 6.6 kg/m2, n = 7), EGb 761 ingestion reduced the platelet TBARS from 29 +/- 9 to 22 +/- 9 pmol/10(7) platelets (p < 0.04). Because ingestion of EGb 761 did not alter platelet counts it is concluded that EGb 761, probably due to the flavonoid fraction, reduced the TBARS by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX)-1-mediated arachidonic acid oxygenation or by reducing the arachidonic acid pool. This is likely to lead to a reduction of platelet hyperactivity, a significant contributor to the development of cardiovascular disease in T2DM patients. Because of other reported beneficial properties of EGb 761, such as stimulation of pancreatic beta-cell function in T2DM subjects with pancreatic exhaustion, it appears that T2DM subjects might benefit from ingesting EGb 761 as a dietary supplement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences-MSC 6246, University of Texas HSC at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. kudolo@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: George B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Kudolo
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delaney
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blodgett
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract