The effects of ginkgo biloba on the epileptiform activity and behaviour in rats

Standardized leaf extract of Ginkgo biloba, EGb 761, has been extensively used primarily for improving particularly cognitive performance in some practices of modern medicine and also complementary medicine. Present study, it is aimed to investigate the effects of EGb 761 on the experimental epilepsy induced by picrotoxin (PTX) in male Wistar rats. In this study physiological saline solution, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg of EGb 761, 300 mg/kg sodium valproate or 100 mg/kg topiramate were applied to Wistar rats divided into 6 groups for 14 days. Epileptiform activity induced by PTX (10 μg, i.c.v.) was observed and recorded by electrophysiological method. According to the findings, the application of 200 mg/kg EGb 761 significantly increased the spike frequency of epileptiform activity induced by PTX (p=0.032). In addition, it was determined that application of EGb 761 increased the spike amplitude and reduced the latency of epileptiform activity in a dose dependent manner, despite it was found that these effects were not statistically significant. Consequently, extract of Ginkgo biloba, EGb 761 increases epileptiform activity induced by PTX. Therefore, it is suggested that the effect of Ginkgo biloba on neuronal excitability and epilepsy should be investigated in detail by using the various experimental models and molecular techniques.