A preliminary investigation of Tanakan in the treatment of hypertensive arteriosclerosis and stroke in rats

Objective To observe the changes in hypertensive cerebral arteriosclerosis and the incidence of stroke in rats following treatment with Tanakan, a pre paration of Ginkgo Biloba (GB). Methods Using two-kidney, two clip renovascular hypertensive rats (RHRs) as animal models - we investigated changes in these hypertensive arterioscler osis-associated factors: A I, A II:, ALD, ET, SOD and cGMP. Blood levels we re observed after oral administration of GB, at both early and late stages of hypertension. Results The degree of arteriosclerosis was more severe in both RHRs control and the later treated group than in the early treated group, with blood le vels of AI, A II, ALD and ET in the former two groups significantly elevate d. The degree of arteriosclerosis in the early treated group decreased and the blood levels of A I, AII, ALD and FT in this group decreased nearly to normal levels. The blood levels of SOD and cGMP were also elevated in the e arly treated group. Conclusions These results reveal that it is important to treat hypertension as soon as possible, in order to reduce the occurrence of stroke.