EARLY HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF GINKGO BILOBA EXTRACT AGAINST DIETHYLNITROSAMINE-INDUCED DAMAGE IN RABBITS

This study evaluated whether Ginkgo biloba extract (GB) attenuates early oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic changes induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in rabbits. Thirty-two rabbits were allocated to control, DEN, DEN+GB, and GB groups (n = 8 each). DEN was administered once intraperitoneally at 100 mg/kg, and GB was given as one oral capsule daily for 60 days. Plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were measured on days 7, 30, and 60; hepatic DNA fragmentation was assessed by TUNEL. On day 7, TNF-α and 8-OHdG were higher in the DEN group than in the control and GB groups (p < 0.05), while DEN+GB showed intermediate values. On day 30, TNF-α remained higher in the DEN group than in all other groups (p < 0.05). Neither marker differed among groups on day 60. Few TUNEL-positive cells occurred in the DEN group and were absent or sparse elsewhere. GB was associated with attenuation of early DEN-related oxidative and inflammatory responses, but prevention of tumor formation was not demonstrated.