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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 28, 2005; 11(24): 3746-3750
Published online Jun 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i24.3746
Protective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats
Sheng-Hsuan Chen, Yu-Chih Liang, Jane CJ Chao, Li-Hsueh Tsai, Chun-Chao Chang, Chia-Chi Wang, Shiann Pan
Sheng-Hsuan Chen, Chun-Chao Chang, Shiann Pan, Department and Research Center of Gastroenterology, Taipei Medical University, 252 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan, China
Yu-Chih Liang, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Technology, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan, China
Jane CJ Chao, School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan, China
Li-Hsueh Tsai, Department of Physiology, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan, China
Chia-Chi Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Min-Sheng Hospital, 168 Ching-Kuo Road, Tao-Yuan City 330, Taiwan, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the grants of the National Science Council, No. NSC- 89-2315-B-038-002 and Min-Sheng Hospital, No. 93 MSH-TMU-05
Correspondence to: Dr. Sheng-Hsuan Chen, Department of Gastroenterology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan, China. shchen@tmu.edu.tw
Telephone: +886-2-27372181-3903 Fax: +886-2-27363051
Received: October 15, 2004
Revised: October 16, 2004
Accepted: December 1, 2004
Published online: June 28, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the preventive effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injuries in rats.

METHODS: Female Wistar albino rats were used for the studies. We randomly divided the rats for each study into five subgroups: normal control, experimental control, and three experimental groups. The gastric ulcers were induced by instilling 1 mL 50% ethanol into the stomach. We gave GbE 8.75, 17.5, 26.25 mg/kg intravenously to the experimental groups respectively 30 min prior to the ulcerative challenge. We removed the stomachs 45 min later. The gastric ulcers, gastric mucus and the content of non-protein sulfhydryl groups (NP-SH), malondialdehyde (MDA), c-Jun kinase (JNK) activity in gastric mucosa were evaluated. The amount of gastric juice and its acidity were also measured.

RESULTS: The findings of our study are as follows: (1) GbE pretreatment was found to provide a dose-dependent protection against the ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats; (2) the GbE pretreatment afforded a dose-dependent inhibition of ethanol-induced depletion of stomach wall mucus, NP-SH contents and increase in the lipid peroxidation (increase MDA) in gastric tissue; (3) gastric ulcer induced by ethanol produced an increase in JNK activity in gastric mucosa which also significantly inhibited by pretreatment with GbE; and (4) GbE alone had no inhibitory effect on gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated rats.

CONCLUSION: The finding of this study showed that GbE significantly inhibited the ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. We suggest that the preventive effect of GbE may be mediated through: (1) inhibition of lipid peroxidation; (2) preservation of gastric mucus and NP-SH; and (3) blockade of cell apoptosis.

Keywords: Ginkgo biloba extract; Ethanol; Gastric ulcer; c-Jun kinase