The effect of ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) extract on diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

ABSTRACTPresent study was designed to evaluate the effects of gingko biloba extracts on thekidneys of diabetic rats induced by streptozotocine (STZ).40 adult male Wistar albino rats were used. Rats were divided into four groups ascontrol, diabetic group, gingko biloba administered diabetic group and groupexposed to solvent only. Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitonealapplication of 60mg/kg STZ to diabetes group and gingko biloba administereddiabetes group. After the induction of diabetes, every day 100 mg/kg gingko bilobaextract was administered orally to the gingko group for 40 days. Throughout theexperiment blood glucose levels and body masses of the rats was monitored. On 40thday rats were decapitated under ether anesthesia and their kidneys were removed.The tissue samples were embedded in paraffine. After histochemical staining thesections were investigated under light microscopy.While blood glucose level of the diabetes group was significantly higher comparedwith the control and solvent groups, the body mass significantly decreased. Basicglomerular and tubular histologic changes caused by diabetes, like thickening of thebasal membrane, expansion of the mesenchymal matrix, glomerulosclerosis, tubularnecrosis, hydropic degeneration, cellular swelling, vacuolization, were observed.These changes were observed significantly less in the gingko biloba groupGingko biloba extract (Egb 761) decreased kidney damage in diabetes in rats inducedwith STZ. We therefore believe that gingko biloba extracts may help preventing thedevelopment of kidney damage and decrease the amount of pathologic findings indiabetes. Further studies are still necessary to demonstrate the efficacy of long termgingko biloba use on diabetic complications.Key words: Experimental diabetes, gingko biloba, kidney, diabetic nephropathy,streptozotocine