title: Protective effect of ginkgo biloba against gossypol-induced apoptosis in human lymphocytes.
abstract: Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) is a well-defined plant extract that directly scavenges hydroxyl radicals. It is a potent antioxidant that inhibits apoptosis in cultured cells and is effective in treating mild-to-moderate dementia in Alzheimer patients. Apoptosis is an active process of cell destruction and it plays an important role in pathological processes. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-apoptotic effect of EGb 761 in gossypol-treated human lymphocytes. Pretreatment of lymphocytes with 10 microg/ml EGb 761 for 30 min or 1h decreased the percentage of apoptosis to 17.5% and 20%, respectively. EGb 761 treatment (25-150 microg/ml) decreased the level of apoptosis to a plateau between 8 and 10% of the control values. We conclude that EGb 761 reduces gossypol-induced apoptosis in human lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Health Ministry Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Cebeci, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ergun
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yurtcu
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ergun
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000737:chemistry*; D006072:Gossypol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
chemical_list: D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D004247:DNA; D006072:Gossypol; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract