Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 1999 Oct-Dec; 62(4): 386-9.

Histopathological assessment of the prophylactic effect of gingko-biloba extract on intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Onen A, Deveci E, InalÃ¶z SS, Isik B, Kilinc M.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dicle University Medical Faculty, Diyarbakir/Turkey.

In this experimental study, the prophylactic effects of Gingko-Biloba Extract (GBE) were examined after experimental ischemia on intestinal wall damage. 50 Wistar-Albino rats (2.5 month old) were gathered and separated into 5 groups (n:10). Group 1 was subjected to a laparotomy (sham-operated group) whereas all other experimental groups were subjected to an occlusion of their superior mesenteric arteries for 30 minutes and a period of 20 minutes reperfusion following occlusion. Group 2 was not given any prophylactic agent during the experiment (untreated control group). GBE was administered in a dosage of 50 mg/kg (i.v.) as a prophylactic agent to Group 3 one hour prior to laparotomy whereas Group 4 was given GBE at 50 mg/kg (i.v.) just before ischemia. Group 5 was given GBE in the same dosage just before reperfusion. Immediately after reperfusion, a biopsy was taken from the ileum (10 cm proximity to ileocaecal valve) for histopathological assessment. A significant prophylactic effect of GBE was observed in Group 5 in which GBE was administered just before reperfusion.