6533b85afe1ef96bd12b9fc2

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Phospholipid breakdown and choline release under hypoxic conditions: inhibition by bilobalide, a constituent of Ginkgo biloba

Shyam Sunder ChatterjeeJochen KleinKonrad Löffelholz

subject

MaleDrug Evaluation PreclinicalCyclopentanesPharmacologyHippocampusCholinechemistry.chemical_compoundSlice preparationBilobalideAnimalsCholineRats WistarGinkgolidesFuransHypoxia BrainMolecular BiologyPhospholipidsEC50biologyPlant ExtractsGinkgo bilobaGeneral NeuroscienceGinkgobiology.organism_classificationRatsPlant LeavesGinkgolidesLogistic ModelschemistryBiochemistryNeurology (clinical)DiterpenesEx vivoDevelopmental Biology

description

A marked increase of choline release from rat hippocampal slices was observed when the slices were superfused with oxygen-free buffer, indicating hypoxia-induced hydrolysis of choline-containing phospholipids. This increase of choline release was suppressed by bilobalide, an ingredient of Ginkgo biloba, but not by a mixture of ginkgolides. The EC50 value for bilobalide was 0.38 microM. In ex vivo experiments, bilobalide also inhibited hypoxia-induced choline release when given p.o. in doses of 2-20 mg/kg 1 h prior to slice preparation. The half-maximum effect was observed with 6 mg/kg bilobalide. A similar effect was noted after p.o. administration of 200 mg/kg EGb 761, a ginkgo extract containing approximately 3% of bilobalide. We conclude that ginkgo extracts can suppress hypoxia-induced membrane breakdown in the brain, and that bilobalide is the active constituent for this effect.

https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-8993(97)00239-4