Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 has anti-inflammatory properties and ameliorates colitis in mice by driving effector T cell apoptosis.
Ulcerative colitis is a dynamic, chronic inflammatory condition of the colon associated with an increased colon cancer risk. Ginkgo biloba is a putative antioxidant and has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments. The aim of this study was to test whether the standardized G.biloba extract, EGb 761, is an antioxidant that can be used to prevent and treat colitis in mice. Here, we show that EGb 761 suppresses the activation of macrophages and can be used to both prevent and treat mouse colitis. Markers of inflammation (iNOS, Cox-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and inflammatory stress (p53 and p53-phospho-serine 15) are also downregulated by EGb 761. Furthermore, we show that EGb 761 reduces the numbers of CD4+/CD25-/Foxp3- effector T cells in the colon. Interestingly, EGb 761 drives CD4+ effector T cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, providing a mechanistic explanation to the reduction in numbers of this cell type in the colon. This current study is in agreement with previous studies supporting a use of EGb 761 as a complementary and alternative strategy to abate colitis and associated colon cancer.
Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Venkata S
VS
Kotakadi
Yu
Y
Jin
Anne B
AB
Hofseth
Lei
L
Ying
Xiangli
X
Cui
Suresh
S
Volate
Alexander
A
Chumanevich
Patricia A
PA
Wood
Robert L
RL
Price
Anna
A
McNeal
Udai P
UP
Singh
Narendra P
NP
Singh
Mitzi
M
Nagarkatti
Prakash S
PS
Nagarkatti
Lydia E
LE
Matesic
Karine
K
Auclair
Michael J
MJ
Wargovich
Lorne J
LJ
Hofseth
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003092:Colitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000378:metabolism; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007249:Inflammation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
D000975:Antioxidants; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010936:Plant Extracts; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse