Protective Effects of Ginkgo Biloba Extract on Rats Following Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion

Objective: To study the protective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract(GBE) on SOD, MDA and NO in rats following focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.Methods: Forty Wistar male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: A (sham-operated group); B (ischemic group); C (small-dose GBE treatment group); D (high-dose GBE treatment group). The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion was set up. GBE of 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg was respectively intraperitoneally injected into the rats 0.5 h before and 1 h after focal cerebral ischemia. The infarct volumes were quantified by TTC staining. The levels of SOD, MDA and NO were measured. Results: ①The levels of SOD in C and D groups were significantly higher than in B group ( P 0.01) and the level of SOD in D group was higher than in C group ( P 0.05).② The levels of MDA and NO in C and D groups were significantly lower than in B group ( P 0.01) and the levels of MDA and NO in D group were lower than in C group ( P 0.05). ③ The infarct volumes in C and D groups were less than in B group ( P 0.01), and the infarct volume in D group was less than in C group ( P 0.05). Conclusion: GBE can decrease the production of free radicals and infarct volumes following cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in a dose-dependent manner.