Angelica archangelica and Ginkgo biloba Extracts Recover Functional Blood Hemoglobin Derivatives in Rabbits Exposed to High Altitude

Background: Shortage of oxygen is a common condition for residents of high-altitude (HA) areas. In mammals, hemoglobin (Hb) has four derivatives: oxyhemoglobin (Hb-O2)‎, carboxyhemoglobin (Hb-CO), sulfhemoglobin (Hb-S), and methemoglobin (Met-Hb). In HA areas, aberrant physiological performance of blood hemoglobin is well-established. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the influence of 30 days of HA residence on rabbits' total Hb, Hb derivatives, Hb autooxidation rate, and antioxidant enzymes in comparison to low-altitude control rabbits. Further, the study aimed to investigate the effect of antioxidant-rich Angelica archangelica and/or Ginkgo biloba extracts on the same parameters in HA-resident rabbits. Methods: Rabbits subjected to 30 days of HA residence were compared to low-altitude control rabbits. HA-residence rabbits were then orally administered 0.11 g/kg b.wt. of Angelica archangelica and/or Ginkgo biloba extract for 14 days. Hb derivatives and Hb autooxidation rate were measured spectrophotometrically. Antioxidant enzymes were estimated using specialized kits. Results: Compared to low-altitude rabbits, 30-day HA-residence rabbits showed a noticeable increase (p<0.05) in Hb-O2‎ and Hb-CO concentration. In addition, Met-Hb concentration, autooxidation rate of Hb molecules, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) exhibited a remarkable increase in HA-residence rabbits (p<0.01), reflective of rapid ROS generation. In HA-residence rabbits, both individual and combined treatment with antioxidant-rich extracts for 14 days resulted in recovery to near-normal functional levels of Hb-O2‎ and Met-Hb, Hb autooxidation rate, and activities of SOD and GPx, while only combined treatment led to Hb-O2 recovery. Conclusion: The findings suggest that functional Hb levels may be recovered by oral administration of A. archangelica, G. biloba, or combined treatments. In conclusion, oxidative stress due to living in HA areas may be avoided by supplementation with natural antioxidants.

Ginkgo Biloba Extracts Inhibit Ischemic LTP Through Attenuating EPSCs In Rat Hippocampus

Ginkgo biloba extract 761 (Egb761), a standardized extract from the Ginkgo biloba leaf, is purported to inhibit NMDA receptor-mediated neuronal excitotoxicity and protect neurons form ischemic injury. However, the specific signal pathway involved in the effects of Egb761 on synaptic plasticity is still in dispute. In this article, effects of Egb761 and its monomer component Ginkgolide A (GA), Ginkgolide B (GB) and Ginkgolide C (GC) on rat hippocampal synaptic plasticity were studied. The evoked Excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and miniature EPSCs were recorded on hippocampal slices from SD rats (14–21 days of age) by whole-cell patch-clamp recording and long-term potentiation (LTP) was induced by theta-burst stimulation. Acutely applied Egb761 inhibited the LTP, but bilaterally affect the EPSCs, that is EPSC increase at lower concentration of Egb761, then EPSC decrease at higher concentration of Egb761. Egb761 monomer component GA, GB and GC could also inhibit the TBS-induced LTP and EPSC amplitude but not paired-pulse ratio (PPR). Simultaneously, Egb761 and its monomer components inhibited the post-ischemic LTP (i-LTP) by inhibiting the EPSCs and the AMPA receptor subunit GluA1 expression on postsynaptic membrane. The results indicated that high concentration of Egb761 might inhibit LTP and i-LTP through inhibition effects of GA, GB and GC on AMPA receptors.

The Effect of Ginkgo biloba Extracts on Candida albicans Isolated from Healthy Persons

The objective was to study the effect of prepared ginkgo biloba extracts against Candida albicans isolated from healthy persons. Conducting susceptibility test, biofilm formation test, phytochemical screening test, and antioxidant activity test. One hundred oral swabs sample were obtained from healthy persons with oral lesion attending dentistry teaching hospital in dentistry college, their age ranged from 1-30 years of both sexex. The studied samples collected through 8 months (April - December / 2018). This study included two different types of ginkgo bilola extracts were prepared as aqueous and ethanolic extracts. Many tests were used, which included isolation and identification of C.albicans, conduct susceptibility test, biofilm formation test, phytochemical screening test, and antioxidant activity test for both aqueous and ethanol ginkgo biloba extracts. From 100 healthy person involved in this study, there were 21(21%) C. albicans isolates revealed from clinical specimens. Aqueous and ethanol ginkgo biloba extracts were used to study their effects against C.albicans. Zone of inhibition was higher in ethanol than aqueous extracts. Three 3 (15%) isolates showed positive biofilm formation in tube method, phytochemical reaction in ethanol extract showed 5 phytochemical compounds, while aqueous extract showed 4 phytochemical compounds, in addition to antioxidant activity in ethanol extract was higher than aqueous. In conclusion C. albicans is the only species from genus Candida isolated from oral lesion in this study, ethanol ginkgo biloba extract have a good antifungal activity, higher number of phytochemical compounds and a higher antioxidant activity than aqueous extract.

The Effect of Ginkgo biloba Extracts on Candida albicans Isolated from Healthy Persons

The objective was to study the effect of prepared ginkgo biloba extracts against Candida albicans isolated from healthy persons. Conducting susceptibility test, biofilm formation test, phytochemical screening test, and antioxidant activity test. One hundred oral swabs sample were obtained from healthy persons with oral lesion attending dentistry teaching hospital in dentistry college, their age ranged from 1-30 years of both sexex. The studied samples collected through 8 months (April - December / 2018). This study included two different types of ginkgo bilola extracts were prepared as aqueous and ethanolic extracts. Many tests were used, which included isolation and identification of C.albicans, conduct susceptibility test, biofilm formation test, phytochemical screening test, and antioxidant activity test for both aqueous and ethanol ginkgo biloba extracts. From 100 healthy person involved in this study, there were 21(21%) C. albicans isolates revealed from clinical specimens. Aqueous and ethanol ginkgo biloba extracts were used to study their effects against C.albicans. Zone of inhibition was higher in ethanol than aqueous extracts. Three 3 (15%) isolates showed positive biofilm formation in tube method, phytochemical reaction in ethanol extract showed 5 phytochemical compounds, while aqueous extract showed 4 phytochemical compounds, in addition to antioxidant activity in ethanol extract was higher than aqueous. In conclusion C. albicans is the only species from genus Candida isolated from oral lesion in this study, ethanol ginkgo biloba extract have a good antifungal activity, higher number of phytochemical compounds and a higher antioxidant activity than aqueous extract.