title: Stabilization of mitochondrial membrane potential and improvement of neuronal energy metabolism by Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761.
abstract: Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 has been used for many years to treat age-related cognitive disorders including Alzheimer's disease. EGb 761 given shortly after initiating mitochondrial damage by sodium nitroprusside (nitric oxide donor) improved the mitochondrial membrane potential of PC12 cells significantly and dose dependently. Under these conditions, EGb 761 also reversed the decrease in ATP production. In addition, similar protection against oxidative damage was found in dissociated brain cells and isolated brain mitochondria after in vitro or in vivo treatment with EGb 761. Moreover, PC12 cells bearing an Alzheimer's disease-related mutation in the amyloid precursor protein, which leads to enhanced beta amyloid production, showed greater benefit from treatment with EGb 761 than did control cells. Taken together, our findings clearly show stabilization and protection of mitochondrial function as a specific and very sensitive property of EGb 761 at therapeutically relevant doses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Biocenter, University of Frankfurt, Germany. anne.eckert@upkbs.ch
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Keil
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Scherping
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauptmann
authors.forename: Walter E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D046934:Ginkgolides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010673:Pheochromocytoma; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
chemical_list: D053453:Caspase 9; D046934:Ginkgolides; D009599:Nitroprusside; D010936:Plant Extracts; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract