Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 protects against aging-associated mitochondrial dysfunction in platelets and hippocampi of SAMP8 mice.
Standardized Ginkgo biloba extract, EGb761, has been shown to possess polyvalent properties, such as anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammation. Recently, it has also been proposed to have direct protective effects on mitochondria. The effects of EGb761 make it a potential anti-aging drug. Despite that, the 'anti-aging' effect of EGb761, particularly its effect on the central nervous system, is still inconclusive. Using two age groups (3-week-old and 40-week-old) of SAMP8 mice (a senescence-accelerated strain of mice), the effects of EGb761 on mitochondrial function in platelets and hippocampi were investigated in this study. It was found that mitochondrial functions, evaluated as cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity, mitochondrial ATP (adenosine-5'-triphosphate) content and mitochondrial glutathione (GSH) content, decreased with age. EGb761 protected against mitochondrial dysfunction in platelets of young and old mice, suggesting a peripheral effect of this herb in the prevention and treatment of age-associated degeneration. In contrast, in hippocampi, protective effects of EGb761 were observed only in the old mice, probably due to an age-associated increase in the permeability of the blood brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, while EGb761 has a potential anti-aging effect, its central effect can be affected by in vivo factors such as the BBB permeability. A better understanding of the in vivo pharmacological actions of EGb761 may contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness and complexity of this drug.
Shi
Chun
C
Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
Xiao
Songhua
S
Liu
Jun
J
Guo
Kaihua
K
Wu
Fengming
F
Yew
David T
DT
Xu
Jie
J
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005978:Glutathione; D010936:Plant Extracts; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract