title: Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to assess the biochemical and histopathologic effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) in an ischemia-reperfusion (IR) model of spinal cord ischemia induced by cross-clamping of the infrarenal abdominal aorta.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups as group 1: control (sham laparotomy), group 2: IR, and group 3: IR+EGb treatment (IR+T) group. All subjects were euthanized 2 days postsurgery and their spinal cords were removed. Tissue malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase levels were measured, and the spinal cord tissue samples were examined histopathologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was detected in ischemia markers between control, IR, and IR+T groups, with the exception of GSH, which was significantly lower in the IR group. GSH levels in group 1 and group 3 were similar. The group 2 displayed significant ischemic damage to the medulla spinalis. This damage was less pronounced in group 3 compared with group 2 only, but in extent and intensity comparable with the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although we were not able to demonstrate a uniform effect of EGb on biochemical markers of IR injury, the histopathologic data appear to show a protective effect conferred on the spinal cord tissue by EGb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Badem
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: serdarbadem@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ugurlucan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Helin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mazlum
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mujdat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer Ali
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Sayin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sabuncuoglu Serafeddin Research and Education Center, Amasya University, Amasya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gurel
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cicek
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bayindir
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Alpagut
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Enver
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dayioglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D008315:Malondialdehyde