Interventional effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on the progression of gastric precancerous lesions in rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on gastric precancerous lesions in rats. METHODS: 80 4-week-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: a control group, a model group, a low and a high dose Ginkgo biloba extract intervention group; 20 in each group. Gastric precancerous lesions were induced by giving them 100 mg/L N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) solution to drink ad libitum for 20 weeks. In addition to the MNNG, the intervention groups were lavaged with Ginkgo biloba extract (0.5 mg/kg/d in the low dose group, 1.5 mg/kg/d in the high dose group) for 20 weeks. Starting from week 21 all the rats were fed with normal rat chow and tap water. At the end of week 30 the rats were killed. The histopathological changes of their gastric mucosa, ISA, NGI, the serum and gastric mucosal SOD/MDA and the expressions of oncogenes were studied. RESULTS: The incidence of mild to severe intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia were significantly lower in the intervention groups than those in the model group (P < 0.01). The ISA and NGI in the intervention groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (P < 0.01). In the intervention groups the activity of SOD was increased and the concentration of MDA was decreased (P < 0.01). Expressions of Bcl-2, c-myc and FasL decreased in the intevention groups, whereas the expression of Fas increased. When compared with the model group, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Ginkgo biloba extract can increase anti-oxidative activity and inhibit the progression of gastric precancerous lesions via the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis.