title: Dual effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract on human red blood cells.
abstract: Extracts from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba have been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Today, various standardized preparations from G. biloba leaf extract have been developed. G. biloba leaf extract, which contains flavonoids and terpenoids as the major biologically active components, has become one of the most popular and commonly used herbal remedies due to its wide spectrum of beneficial effects on health. In this study, we investigated the effects of G. biloba leaf extract on the properties of human red blood cells in the presence and absence of amyloid peptide (Abeta25-35), peroxide and hypotonic stress. The results suggest that G. biloba leaf extract has a dual action, both protective and disruptive, on red blood cells, depending on whether an exogenous stress is present. G. biloba leaf extract has a protective role on red blood cells against Abeta- and hypotonic pressure-induced haemolysis, peroxide-induced lipoperoxidation, as well as glutathione consumption and methaemoglobin formation. On the other hand, G. biloba leaf extract also exhibited damage to red blood cells by increasing cell fragility, changing cellular morphology and inducing glutathione consumption and methaemoglobin formation, especially when applied at high doses. These anti- and pro-oxidative activities of polyphenolic substances are thought to be involved in the dual function of G. biloba leaf extract. The results of this study suggest that high doses of herbal remedies and dietary supplements can be toxic to cells.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xue-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Cheng-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000633:toxicity; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000737:chemistry*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D009996:Osmotic Fragility / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000633:toxicity; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010936:Plant Extracts; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); D008706:Methemoglobin; D005978:Glutathione