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Planta Med 2009; 75(8): 792-796
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185451
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Comparative Anticancer and Antioxidant Activities of Different Ingredients of Ginkgo biloba Extract (EGb 761)

Xiaolong Feng1 , Lantong Zhang1 , Huiming Zhu2
  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
  • 2Yiling Academy and Medicine of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
Further Information

Publication History

received Sept. 22, 2008 revised Jaunary 17, 2009

accepted January 23, 2009

Publication Date:
13 March 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Flavonoid glycosides are the major constituents of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) and are well known to be an antioxidant for inhibiting tumor growth. Because it contains several flavonoid glycosides and other bioactive substances, the activities of EGb 761 against cancer in vivo and in vitro remain poorly understood. This situation prompted interest in the compounds for experimental study. We have investigated the anticancer effects of three analogues of EGb 761 samples on sarcoma 108 (S180)-bearing mice and leukemic 1210 (L1210) cell lines. We have also evaluated the changes of endogeneous antioxidant scavenging enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GST), lipid peroxidation (LPx), and catalase (CAT), in the blood of the S180-bearing mice. The EGb 761, EGb 761-H (containing mainly flavonoid aglycones and terpene trilactones), and EGb 761-DT‐H (containing mainly flavonoid aglycones) samples exhibited cytotoxicity and inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 46.36 ± 2.43 µM, 10.27 ± 0.88 µM, and 14.93 ± 0.73 µM in L1210 cell-based assays, respectively. This resulted in 41.74 %, 60.72 %, and 63.76 % reductions in tumor weight after 10 days of treatment, respectively. In summary, the anticancer activity of EGb 761 can be improved by increasing the concentration of the aglycone form of the flavonoid. Terpene trilactones cannot exert the anticancer effects of flavonoids in vivo. Raising the levels of the free radical scavenger enzymes GST, SOD and CAT may be one of the involved anticancer mechanisms.

Key words

Ginkgo biloba - Ginkgoaceae - anticancer - antioxidant - sarcoma 108 - leukemic 1210 cell line

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Prof. Dr. Lantong Zhang

Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy
Hebei Medical University

Shijiazhuang 050017

People's Republic of China

Phone: + 86 3 11 86 26 64 19

Fax: + 86 3 11 86 05 20 53

Email: zhanglantong@263.net