Protective Effects Of Ginkgo Biloba Research Articles

Protective effect of Ginkgo biloba and Olive oil on the reproductive performance of male albino rats exposed to oxidative stress induced by Potassium dichromate

The present study is designed to demonstrate the effect of Ginkgo biloba and Olive oil on the reproductive performance of male rats exposed to oxidative stress induced by Potassium dichromate with respect to male sex hormones, semen parameters and testicular antioxidant system,. Forty Wister albino rats were distributed into four groups and each group have ten rats, control group, Potassium dichromate group (Potassium dichromate 24 mg/kg administered with gavage for 2 month), Potassium dichromate treated with Ginkgo biloba group (Potassium dichromate and Ginkgo biloba 40 mg/kg administered at half an hour interval for 2 months) and Potassium dichromate treated with olive oil group (Potassium dichromate and Olive oil 1 ml/kg administered at half an hour interval for 2 months). The statistical analysis of results showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in sperms count, the percentage of sperms viability, the level of sex hormones, ceruloplasmin, glutathione concentration, and superoxide dismutase activity, antioxidant activity (AOA), germinal epithelium height and diameter of seminiferous tubules and a significant increase of sperm percentage abnormalities, dead sperm, malondialdelyde (MDA), peroxynitrite (ONOO-) in Potassium dichromate group, compared with control group. The administration of Potassium dichromate with Ginkgo biloba and Olive oil separately result in a significant increase of sperms count, sperms viability, sex hormones levels, ceruloplasmin, glutathione concentration , superoxide dismutase and antioxidant activity, germinal epithelium height and diameter of seminiferous tubules and a significant decrease of sperm abnormalities, dead sperm percentage, MDA, ONOO-. In conclusion the levels of antioxidant parameters, sperm count and sperm viability were restored to normal values when Potassium dichromate administered in combination with Ginkgo biloba or with Olive oil therefor Ginkgo biloba and Olive oil may be beneficial for improving reproductive performance of male rats.

The Potential Protective Effects of Ginkgo Biloba on Bilirubin Cytotoxicity in Newborn Rat

The Potential Protective Effects of Ginkgo Biloba on Bilirubin Cytotoxicity in Newborn Rat

In vivo protective effects of Ginkgo biloba L. leaf extract against hydrogen peroxide toxicity: cytogenetic and biochemical evaluation.

In this study, the protective effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GbE) against toxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in Swiss albino mice were investigated. Abnormal metaphase number (AMn), mitotic index (MI), micronucleus (MN), and chromosomal abnormalities (CAs) were analyzed for cytogenetic effects. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver and kidney organs were investigated as indicators of biochemical toxicity. Six experimental groups were formed as a control and treatment group, each containing six animals. The mice in the control group were given tap water, while the mice in the administration group received two different doses of GbE and H2O2 for 45 consecutive days. It was observed that H2O2 administration caused a significant decrease in MI compared to the control group and caused a significant decrease in the frequency of AMn, MN, and CAs. Chromatid break was the most common type of CAs induced by H2O2, and the other CAs types observed in this study were chromosome break, fragment, dicentric, gap, and ring. It has been determined that GbE treatment decreases the clastogenic effects of H2O2 and reduces the MN and CAs frequency and causes a re-increase in mitotic cell numbers. It was determined that H2O2 administration caused changes in biochemical parameters and resulted in significant increases in serum AST, ALP, ALT, BUN, and creatinine levels. However, the level of MDA, which is an indicator of oxidative damage, increased, and GSH level decreased in liver and kidney tissues. Oxidative damage caused by H2O2 in liver and kidney tissues was improved, and all biochemical parameters tested were found to be ameliorated after GbE treatment. This improvement was dependent on the dose of GbE, and improvement in 150mg/kg bw GbE was found to be more prominent. As a result, the GbE can be used as an antioxidant nutritional supplement to protect against the toxic effects of environmental agents such as H2O2.

Protective effects of Ginkgo biloba L. against natural toxins, chemical toxicities, and radiation: A comprehensive review.

Nowadays in our developing and industrial world, humans' health or even their life is threatened by exposure to poisons. In this situation, detecting a protective compound could be helpful and interesting. In the present article, we collected and reviewed all studies, which have been conducted so far about the protective effects of Ginkgo biloba L. (GB), one of the most ancient medicinal tree species, against toxicities induced by chemical toxic agents, natural toxins, and also radiation. In overall, investigations showed that GB exerts the antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antigenotoxicity effects in different toxicities. There are also some special mechanisms about its protective effects against some specific toxic agents, such as acetylcholine esterase inhibition in the aluminium neurotoxicity or membrane-bond phosphodiesterase activation in the triethyltin toxicity. Ginkgolide A was the most investigated active ingredient of G. biloba leaf extract as a protective compound against toxicities, which had the similar effects of total extract. A few clinical studies have been conducted in this field, which demonstrated the beneficial effects of GB against toxic agents. However, the promising effects of this valuable herbal extract will practically remain useless without carrying out more clinical studies and proving its effects on human beings.

Renal Protective Effect of Ginkgo biloba and L-carnitine Extracts against Pentylenetetrazol Induced Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, Injury and Proliferation Alternation in Epileptic Rats

Objectives: Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBLE) and L-carnitine extract are a commercial product used as a nutraceutic herbal widely. They have antioxidant and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger. This study hypothesized that GB and L-carnitine may have protective effects against pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induced oxidative damage in kidney in male albino rats.
 Materials and Methods: A total of 80 male albino rats were equally divided into eight groups (G1, control; G2, GBLE; G3, L-carnitine; G4, Pentylenetetrazole; G5&G6, pre and post treated PTZ with L-carnitine groups respectively; G7&G8, pre and post treated PTZ with GBLE respectively). Results: Serum urea, creatinine, uric acid and cystatin c were significantly increased in PTZ group when compared with control. Also; kidney homogenate MDA and DNA fragmentation were increased when compared with control while, significant decrease in CAT, SOD, GST and TAC in PTZ when compared with control. On other hand pre and post-treatment with L-carnitine and GBLE improved these parameters.
 Conclusions: The results revealed that; the treatment with L-carnitine improved these parameters more than GBLE and the results of post treatment were better than pre-treatment.

Effects of gingko, Ginkgo biloba extract on metabolic hormones, liver histology, and growth parameters of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss exposed to diazinon

The medicinal plant, Ginkgo biloba (GB) has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to improve health in human. In this study, we investigated for the first time the protective effects of GB against the toxic effects of the organophosphate pesticide (PC), diazinon on metabolic hormones, plasma glucose, liver histology and growth parameters of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. In non-diazinon-exposed fish, groups supplemented with 1 and 2 g GB/kg diet showed higher levels of plasma thyroid hormones [(Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)], body weight index (BWI %) and specific growth rate (SGR %) compared to control (non-GB-supplemented fish) (p < .05). The supplementation of fish with 4 g GB/kg diet decreased the BWI %, SGR %, and plasma thyroid hormones (p < .05). FCR values significantly decreased in fish supplemented with 1 and 2 g GB/kg diet (p < .05). Also, no alternations were found in plasma levels of cortisol and glucose and liver histology during 60 d experiment (p > .05). In diazinon-exposed fish, thyroid hormones, BWI %, and SGR % significantly decreased during exposure period in all experimental groups (p < .05). FCR values significantly increased in control and fish supplemented with 0.5 and 4 g GB/kg diet (p < .05). No significant changes were observed in FCR values of fish fed 1 and 2 g GB/kg diet (p > .05). The cortisol levels significantly elevated during exposure period in control and groups fed 0.5, 1, and 4 g GB/kg diet, while this hormone remained unchanged in fish supplemented with 2 g GB/kg diet (p > .05). The plasma levels of glucose significantly elevated in fish supplemented with 2 g GB/kg diet (p < .5). Based on histological observations, the severity of liver damages was lower in GB-supplemented fish compared to non-supplemented ones (p < .5). The lowest liver lesions were observed in fish supplemented with 1 and 2 g GB/kg diet (p < .5). In conclusion, the findings of this study showed that GB at optimum dietary levels (1–2 g GB/kg diet) could stimulate the growth and also moderate the growth suppressing effects, stress, and liver tissue damages induced by diazinon.

Protective Effect of Ginkgo biloba and Magnetized Water on Nephropathy in Induced Type 2 Diabetes in Rat

We aimed in our current study to explore the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba (GB) and magnetized water (MW) against nephrotoxicity associating induced type 2 diabetes mellitus in rat. Here, we induced diabetes by feeding our lab rats on a high fat-containing diet (4 weeks) and after that injecting them with streptozotocin (STZ). We randomly divided forty rats into four different groups: nontreated control (Ctrl), nontreated diabetic (Diabetic), Diabetic+GB (4-week treatment), and Diabetic+MW (4-week treatment). After the experiment was finished, serum and kidney tissue samples were gathered. Blood levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, and urea were markedly elevated in the diabetic group than in the control group. In all animals treated with GB and MW, the levels of urea, creatinine, and glucose were significantly reduced (all P < 0.01). GB and MW attenuated glomerular and tubular injury as well as the histological score. Furthermore, they normalized the contents of glutathione reductase and SOD2. In summary, our data showed that GB and MW treatment protected type 2 diabetic rat kidneys from nephrotoxic damages by reducing the hyperlipidemia, uremia, oxidative stress, and renal dysfunction.

Corrigendum to "Protective Effect of Ginkgo biloba and Magnetized Water on Nephropathy in Induced Type 2 Diabetes in Rat".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/1785614.].

Radioprotective efficacy of Ginkgo biloba and Angelica archangelica extract against technetium-99m-sestamibi induced oxidative stress and lens injury in rats

Purpose: Technetium-99m is a radioactive tracer that emits gamma rays. Its half-life time is 6 h. Similar to other ionizing radiations, the main mechanism of radiation-induced effects is initiated through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study was designed to determine the possible protective effects of Ginkgo biloba and Angelica archangelica against oxidative organ damage that was induced by 99mTc-sestamibi.Materials and methods: The experiments were performed on thirty-six Wistar-rats which were subdivided into control groups and groups exposed to 99mTc-sestamibi. The irradiated groups were either untreated or pre-treated with G. biloba or A. archangelica. For all groups, the levels and/or activities of Catalase (CAT), Glutathione (GSH), Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Superoxide-dismutase (SOD) were measured in blood and lenses. The soluble/insoluble protein ratio was determined and lens-protein profiles were obtained via Sodium-Dodecyl-Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel-Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).Results: There were no significant difference between the pre-treated and irradiated G. biloba group and control group, while both groups were significantly different (p < .05) from the untreated irradiated group. On the other hand, treatment with A. archangelica did not confer any significant protection against 99mTc-sestamibi induced toxicity.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that G. biloba, through its free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties, successfully attenuated 99mTc-sestamibi radiation-induced oxidative organ injury. The latter is a crucial factor of cataractogenesis in rats, suggesting that G. biloba may have a potential benefit in the protection against radiopharmaceuticals.

Ginkgo biloba extract alleviates oxidative stress and some neurotransmitters changes induced by aluminum chloride in rats

In the present study, twenty four adult male albino rats were classified into four groups. The control group received normal diet and water; the second group was treated daily with oral dose of Ginkgo biloba (200 mg/kg body weight [b.wt]) for 3 mo; the third group was treated daily with oral dose of aluminum chloride (10 mg/kg b.wt) for 3 mo; and the fourth group was treated with both Ginkgo biloba and aluminum chloride (200 and 10 mg/kg b.wt, respectively) using a stomach tube for 3 mo. The results showed that administration of AlCl3 to rats induced significant increase (P < 0.05) in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and decrease (P < 0.05) in glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in brain and testis homogenates. The data also showed significant decrease (P < 0.05) in noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin (5-HT) levels in brain tissue. The rats administered AlCl3 showed significant decrease (P < 0.05) in serum zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum iron (Fe), and non-significant decrease in magnesium (Mg). Furthermore, significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase and significant decrease (P < 0.05) in testosterone were recorded. The histologic examination showed some degenerative changes in both brain and testis tissues while significant improvement in biochemical and histologic changes were observed in the aluminum chloride plus Ginkgo biloba group. It could be concluded that the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba may be attributed to its antioxidant properties.

Protective effect of Ginkgo biloba in renal system versus toxic effect of carbon tetrachloride

Protective effect of Ginkgo biloba in renal system versus toxic effect of carbon tetrachloride

Protective effect of Ginkgo biloba leaves extract, EGb761, on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury via a JNK- and Akt-dependent NFκB pathway.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a clinical syndrome mainly caused by Gram-negative bacteria which is still in need of an effective therapeutic medicine. EGb761, an extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves, has several bioeffects including anti-inflammation, cardioprotection, neuroprotection, and free radical scavenging. Preadministration of EGb761 inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced histopathological changes and exchange of arterial blood gas. In addition, LPS-induced expression of proinflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), were suppressed by EGb761. The activation of nuclear factor (NF)κB, a transcription factor of proinflammatory mediators, and phosphorylation of IκB, an inhibitor of NFκB, were also reduced by EGb761. Furthermore, we found the inhibitory concentration of EGb761 on phosphorylation of JNK and Akt was less than those of ERK and p38 MAPK. In conclusion, EGb761 is a potential protective agent for ALI, possibly via downregulating the JNK- and Akt-dependent NFκB activation pathway.

Neural network assessment of herbal protection against chemotherapeutic-induced reproductive toxicity

The aim of this study is to assess the protective effects of Ginkgo biloba's (GB) extract against chemotherapeutic-induced reproductive toxicity using a data mining tool, namely Neural Network Clustering (NNC) on two types of data: biochemical & fertility indicators and Texture Analysis (TA) parameters. GB extract (1 g/kg/day) was given orally to male albino rats for 26 days. This period began 21 days before a single cisplatin (CIS) intraperitoneal injection (10 mg/kg body weight). GB given orally significantly restored reproductive function. Tested extract also notably reduced the CIS-induced reproductive toxicity, as evidenced by restoring normal morphology of testes. In GB, the attenuation of CIS-induced damage was associated with less apoptotic cell death both in the testicular tissue and in the sperms. CIS-induced alterations of testicular lipid peroxidation were markedly improved by the examined plant extract. NNC has been used for classifying animal groups based on the quantified biochemical & fertility indicators and microscopic image texture parameters extracted by TA. NNC showed the separation of two clusters and the distribution of groups among them in a way that signifies the dose-dependent protective effect of GB. The present study introduces the neural network as a powerful tool to assess both biochemical and histopathological data. We also show here that herbal protection against CIS-induced reproductive toxicity utilizing classic methodologies is validated using neural network analysis.

A Standardized Extract ofGinkgo bilobaNeutralizes Cisplatin-Mediated Reproductive Toxicity in Rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of Ginkgo biloba (GB) against testicular damage and oxidative stress as well as caudal sperm indices in a cisplatin- (CIS-) induced rodent model. Adult male Wistar rats were given vehicle, single i.p. dose of CIS alone (10 mg/kg), GB alone (200 mg g/kg every day for five days), or single dose of CIS followed by GB (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg every day for five days). On day 6, after the first drug treatment oxidative and apoptotic testicular toxicity was evaluated. CIS-treated rats displayed decreased weights of testes and epididymis as well as caudal sperm count and motility. This reproductive toxicity was accompanied with increased germ-cell degeneration in seminiferous tubules and increased germ-cell apoptosis, increased testicular MDA levels and MPO activity, and decreased SOD and CAT activities in testes. Intensive expressions of COX-2, iNOS, and NF-κB p65 in testicular tissues were detected in CIS-treated group. Oral GB administrations at all doses to CIS-treated rats effectively alleviated all of the CIS-induced toxicity in reproductive system. The present results provide further insights into the mechanisms of protection against CIS-induced reproductive toxicity and confirm the essential antioxidant potential of a GB extract.

Protective effects of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) on testicular torsion/detorsion-induced ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) on testicular torsion/detorsion induced ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: control, I/R and I/R treated with EGb 761; each group contains 8 animals. Testicular torsion was created by rotating the left testis 720° in a clockwise direction. The ischemia period was 5 h and orchiectomy was performed after 5 h of detorsion. EGb 761 (50 mg/kg, orally) was administrated only once, 40 min prior to detorsion. To date, no more histopathological changes on testicular torsion/detorsion induced ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats by EGb 761 treatment have been reported. Spermatogenesis and mean seminiferous tubule diameter (MSTD) were significantly decreased in I/R groups were compared to the control group. Furthermore, EGb 761 treated animals showed an improved histological appearance in I/R group. Our data indicate a significant reduction in the activity of TUNEL and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in testes tissue of I/R treated with EGb 761 therapy. Electron microscopy of the testes of rats demonstrated that EGb 761 pretreatment was particularly effective in preventing the mitochondrial degeneration, dilatation of SER and enlarged intercellular spaces in both Sertoli and spermatid cells in I/R treated animals. We believe that further preclinical research into the utility of EGb 761 may indicate its usefulness as a potential treatment on testes injury after I/R in rats.

Radyasyona Bağlı İnce Bağırsak Hasarında Ginkgo Biloba, Probiyotik Saccharomyces Boulardii ve N-Asetilsistein?in Koruyucu Etkilerinin İmmünohistokimyasal Yöntemle Değerlendirilmesi

Radyasyona Bağlı İnce Bağırsak Hasarında Ginkgo Biloba, Probiyotik Saccharomyces Boulardii ve N-Asetilsistein?in Koruyucu Etkilerinin İmmünohistokimyasal Yöntemle Değerlendirilmesi

Protective effects of Ginkgo biloba against rat liver carcinogenesis

Ginkgo biloba (EGb) has been proposed as a promising candidate for cancer chemoprevention and has shown protective effects on the liver against chemically induced oxidative injury and fibrosis. The potential beneficial effects of EGb were investigated in two rat liver carcinogenesis bioassays induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN). In a short-term study for anti-initiating screening, male Wistar rats were fed a basal diet or supplemented diet with 500 or 1000 ppm EGb and initiated 14 days later with a single dose of DEN (100 mg/kg i.p.). The respective groups were killed 24 h or 2 weeks after DEN-initiation. Liver samples were collected for the analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α), p53, apoptosis and induction of single hepatocytes and minifoci positive for the enzyme glutathione S-transferase P-form (GST-P). In a medium-term study for anti-promoting screening, the animals received a single dose of DEN (200 mg/kg i.p.) and, 2 weeks later, were fed a basal diet or supplemented diet with 500 or 1000 ppm EGb for 6 weeks. All animals underwent 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) at week 3 and killed at week 8. Liver samples were colleted to analyze development of preneoplastic foci of altered hepatocytes (FAH) expressing GST-P. In the short-term study, pretreatment of rats with 1000 ppm EGb significantly reduced the rates of cell proliferation, apoptosis and p53, TGF-α immunoreactivity and the number of GST-P-positive hepatocytes. In the medium-term study, EGb treatment during the post-initiation stage failed to reduce the development of DEN-induced GST-P-positive foci. Thus, EGb presented inhibitory actions during initiation but not promotion of rat liver carcinogenesis induced by DEN.

In vitro protective effects of Ginkgo biloba against cisplatin toxicity in mouse cell line OCk3

Cisplatin is one of the most common agents employed in standard treatments of a variety of malignant tumours. However, its clinical application is limited because of serious and sometimes irreversible side-effects, which include ototoxicity. As a result of cisplatin treatment, several areas of the cochlea are damaged, including outer hair cells in the organ of Corti, spiral ganglion and the stria vascularis. Notwithstanding extensive research, the available treatments to prevent ototoxicity are not very effective. Cisplatin is thought to interfere with the production of endogenous antioxidants that protect the inner ear against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Outer hair cells are the most sensitive to ROS damage, which can lead to apoptosis. Strategies of chemoprevention include the administration of antioxidants to protect hair cells at an early stage in the ototoxic pathways. In this study we evaluated the protective effects of a nutraceutical product compound with antioxidant activity (ACUVAL®, Scharper...

Protective effects of ginkgo biloba leaves extract on peroxide-induced oxidative stress damage in PC12 cells

Background Extracts of ginkgo biloba leaves (EGB) and its metabolites have been reported to enhance brain function and nerve behavior. It has also been hypothesized that they can protect neurons from oxidative stress. Objective To investigate protective effects of EGB on peroxide (H 2O 2)-induced oxidative stress damage in PC12 cells. Design Observational contrast study. Setting Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Pharmacological College. Materials EGB was provided by Xi'an Fujie Biotechnological Development Company; 1640 culture medium, methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), trypsin and dimathyl sulfoxide (DMSO) by Sigma Company; PC12 cell strain by Cell Center of Medical College of Zhongshan University; calf serum by Hangzhou Sijiqing Bioengineering Company; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) kit by Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Research Institute. Methods The experiment was carried out in Department of Cell Biology of Guangdong Pharmacological College from June to December 2005. ▪ Cell culture PC12 cells were cultured in 1640 medium containing 200 g/L fetal calf serum. The cells were diluted to 1×10 7 L −1 and washed every two days. Those cells were used to experiment until they grew in logarithm on solid wall. ▪ Grouping and intervention: PC12 cells (1×10 8 L −1) were plated in 96-well plates with the density of 200 μL/hole and divided into three groups: normal control group (routinely adding media), H 2O 2 group (treating with media and H 2O 2 for 20 hours) and EGB group (adding media, 100 μmol/L EGB and 100 μmol/L H 2O 2). ▪ MTT assay: PC12 cells (1× 10 8 L −1) were plated in 96-well plates and divided into three groups with 8 holes for each group. Under sterile condition, cells were added with 5 g/L MTT (100 μL) and cultured for 4 hours. And then, 200 μL DMSO fluid was added and shaken for 30 minutes until blue crystal products formed were dissolved soundly. ▪ Experimental evaluation: Absorbance ( A) at 630 nm was measured and LDH activity was measured at the same time. Main Outcome Measures Results of MTT assay and LDH activity. Results ▪Results of MTT assay A value was lower in the H 2O 2 group than that in the normal control group ( P < 0.01), while A value was higher in the EGB group than that in the H 2O 2 group ( P < 0.01). ▪ LDH activity: LDH activity was higher in the H 2O 2 group than that in the normal control group ( P < 0.01), while LDH activity was lower in the EGB group than that in the H 2O 2 group ( P < 0.01). Conclusion EGB can inhibit H 2O 2-induced oxidative stress damage in PC12 cells possibly by preventing damage to the cell membrane.

Ginkgo biloba extract protects against mercury(II)-induced oxidative tissue damage in rats

Mercury(II) is a highly toxic metal which induces oxidative stress in the body. In this study we aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb), an antioxidant agent, against experimental mercury toxicity in rat model. Following a single dose of 5 mg/kg mercuric chloride (HgCl 2; Hg group) either saline or EGb (150 mg/kg) was administered for 5 days. After decapitation of the rats trunk blood was obtained and the tissue samples from the brain, lung, liver, and kidney were taken for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and collagen contents. Formation of reactive oxygen species in the tissue samples was monitored by chemiluminescence (CL) technique. BUN, creatinin, ALT, and AST levels and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were assayed in serum samples. The results revealed that HgCl 2 induced oxidative damage caused significant decrease in GSH level, significant increase in MDA level, MPO activity and collagen content of the tissues. Treatment of rats with EGb significantly increased the GSH level and decreased the MDA level, MPO activity, and collagen contents. Similarly, serum ALT, AST and BUN levels, as well as LDH and TNF-α, were elevated in the Hg group as compared to control group. On the other hand, EGb treatment reversed all these biochemical indices. Our results implicate that mercury-induced oxidative damage in brain, lung, liver, and kidney tissues protected by G. biloba extract, with its antioxidant effects.