EFFICIENCY OF GINKGO-BILOBA EXTRACT (EGB-761) IN ANTIOXIDANT PROTECTION AGAINST MYOCARDIAL-ISCHEMIA AND REPERFUSION INJURY

The cardio-protective mechanisms of EGb 761, an extract of Ginkgo bilo ba leaves, on myocardial ischemia-repel-fusion injury were investigate d using rabbits subjected to 30 minutes of regional cardiac ischemia a nd 120 min of reperfusion under anesthesia. Compared to the saline per fused group, EGb 761 treatment (10 mg/kg, injected into the coronary a rtery) significantly inhibited the increase in lipid peroxidation and maintained total and CuZn-SOD levels in both plasma and tissue during and at the end of reperfusion. Both the decrease in tissue type plasmi nogen activator (t-PA) and the increase in plasminogen activator inhib itor-1 (PAI-1) caused by ischemia-reperfusion were also significantly suppressed by EGb 761 treatment. Furthermore, the ultrastructure of th e myocytes of the EGb 761 treated heart was slightly damaged after isc hemia-reperfusion, while the control ischemic-repel-fused hearts demon strated severe histological damages such as swelling and vacuolization of the mitochondria. These results suggest that EGb 761 protects hear ts by its antioxidant properties and by its ability to adjust fibrinol ytic activity.