Effect of <i>Ginkgo biloba</i> Extract Serum in Protecting<i> Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> from Galactic Cosmic Radiation

The content of my paper exploring the effects of varying concentrations of <i>Ginkgo biloba </i>on protecting <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> from Galactic Cosmic Radiation is significant to closing the research gap in radiation protection for astronauts. Although limited in scalability, it provides a good first step in the world of radiation protection for astronauts. Ionizing radiation from galactic cosmic rays damages DNA and cell structures, an inherent risk astronauts take when traveling out in space. My study investigated the protective effects of <i>Ginkgo biloba</i> extract serum on yeast cells, a close substitute for human cells, exposing them to electromagnetic radiation. My findings supported the hypothesis that <i>Ginkgo biloba</i> serum provides a protective effect against radiation, with higher concentrations offering greater protection. Existing studies by Okumus and his colleagues (2011) found that the impact of <i>Ginkgo biloba </i>extract supplementation on 24 Sprague-Dawley rats following exposure to gamma radiation found that rats exposed to gamma radiation without <i>Ginkgo biloba</i> extract supplementation exhibited significantly decreased total superoxide scavenger activity, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase activity which are all critical components of the body's natural antioxidant defense system.