Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on experimental cardiac remodeling.
BACKGROUND
To investigate the ameliorated effects of an extract of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on experimental cardiac remodeling in rats induced by acute cardiac infarction, and further explore the mechanism concentrated on myocardial type I collagen, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and provide the experimental data for clinical application of GBE.


METHODS
Rats were divided into five groups (n = 20) as following: sham operation group (group A), acute myocardial infarction model group (group B), acute myocardial infarction model + aspirin (10 mg/kg) treatment group (group C), acute myocardial infarction model + captopril (20 mg/kg) treatment group (group D) and acute myocardial infarction model + Ginkgo biloba extract (100 mg/kg) treatment group (group E). The rat acute myocardial infarction model was reproduced by ligaturing the left anterior descending artery excluding the sham operation group which did not ligation only completed the operational process. Each group was further subdivided into treatment regimens lasting 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods were used to detect the protein expression and mRNA transcriptional levels of rat myocardial TGF-β1, type I collagen, MMP-2 and MMP-9.


RESULTS
Compared with group B, regardless of the length of treatment (4 or 8 weeks), the TGF-β1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA transcriptional levels, and the protein expression levels of type I collagen, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in groups D, C and E were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 in groups D, C and E were significantly lower after 8 weeks compared to after 4 weeks (P < 0.01), as were the expression levels of type I collagen in groups D, C and E (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the protein expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 between groups E and C.


CONCLUSIONS
GBE could inhibit experimental rat myocardial remodeling after acute myocardial infarction via reduced transcription of TGF-β1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes and by the decreased expression of type I collagen, MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins in myocardial cells.
Department of Cadiovascular Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Beijing Road, , Guizhou, Guiyang, 550004, China. liwei249188@sina.com.|Key Laboratory of Optimal utilization of Natural Medicinal Resources, School of Pharmaceutic Science, Guizhou Medical University, Huaxi College Station, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China. liwei249188@sina.com.
Wei
W
Li
Central laboratory, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Zhongshan East Road 83, Guiyang, 550002, Guizhou, China. luo8300@sina.com.
Zhenhua
Z
Luo
Department of Cadiovascular Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Beijing Road, , Guizhou, Guiyang, 550004, China. lxd@gmc.edu.cn.
Xingde
X
Liu
Key Laboratory of Optimal utilization of Natural Medicinal Resources, School of Pharmaceutic Science, Guizhou Medical University, Huaxi College Station, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China. fulingyun123@sina.com.
Lingyun
L
Fu
Key Laboratory of Optimal utilization of Natural Medicinal Resources, School of Pharmaceutic Science, Guizhou Medical University, Huaxi College Station, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China. yini830727@163.com.
Yini
Y
Xu
Department of Cadiovascular Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Beijing Road, , Guizhou, Guiyang, 550004, China. wlr@medmail.com.cn.
Lirong
L
Wu
Key Laboratory of Optimal utilization of Natural Medicinal Resources, School of Pharmaceutic Science, Guizhou Medical University, Huaxi College Station, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China. shenxiangchun@126.com.
Xianchun
X
Shen
D000818:Animals; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
D024042:Collagen Type I; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9