title: Dosage effects of ginkgolide B on ethanol-induced cell death in human hepatoma G2 cells.
abstract: Ginkgolide B is a major active component of Ginkgo biloba extracts, which has been shown to confer anticancer effects by inducing apoptosis or inhibiting oxidative stress generation. Ethanol induces a wide range of cellular toxicities, many of which have been linked to free radical generation. To further elucidate the cellular effects of ginkgolide B, we examined the dose-response effect of ginkgolide B on ethanol-induced toxicity in human Hep G2 cells. TUNEL and MTT assays revealed that ethanol (50-400 mM) induced apoptotic cell death in human Hep G2 cells, and that this effect was inhibited by low (5-25 microM) doses of ginkgolide B, but enhanced by high (50-100 microM) doses of ginkgolide B. Additional experiments revealed that ethanol treatment directly increased intracellular oxidative stress; this effect was enhanced by high doses of ginkgolide B but decreased following treatment with low concentrations of ginkgolide B. The dose-response effects of ginkgolide B on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were directly correlated with cell apoptotic biochemical changes including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, caspase-3 activation, and DNA fragmentation. These results indicate that treatment dosage may determine the effect of ginkgolide B on ethanol-induced ROS generation and cell apoptosis, and support the notion that an appropriate dosage of ginkgolide B may aid in decreasing the toxic effects of ethanol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li, Taiwan. whchan@cycu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Wen-Hsiung
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yan-Der
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Hsuuw
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D046934:Ginkgolides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D046934:Ginkgolides; D007783:Lactones; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000431:Ethanol; C045856:ginkgolide B