THE EFFECTS OF GINGKO-BILOBA EXTRACT AND DEFEROXAMINE ON FLAP VIABILITY

It has been claimed that pretreatment of tissues with a variety of age nts can minimize the production of oxygen radicals and improve tissue survival after an ischemic insult. In this study, the effects of two d ifferent free radical scavengers, ginkgo biloba extract-EGb 761, and d eferoxamine, were compared in a rat groin island skin flap model. The rates of skin flap necrosis were determined and biochemical enzymes in cluding malonyldialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathio ne peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were measured. The biopsy specimens were evaluated electron microscopically. The rates of skin flap necrosis i n the treated groups were found to be lower than those in control grou ps (p<0.001). The biopsy specimens from radical scavenger treated grou ps showed that the ginkgo biloba and deferoxamine treated rat samples had significantly lower MDA; SOD, GSH-Px levels on the 2nd, 6th, 10th experiment days when compared with the results of control groups (p<0. 001). However, in magnitude this marked decrease in MDA, SOD, and GSH- Px levels which was detected after 2nd, 6th and 10th days in ginkgo bi loba treated group were found to be lower than in deferoxamine treated ones (p<0.05). The electron microscopic investigation also showed tha t the ginkgo biloba treated rat biopsy specimens had more normal tissu e ultrastructures than the deferoxamine treated rat samples.