Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ginkgo biloba extract (EGb-761) on liver and terminal ileum morphology, biochemical parameters and bacterial translocation in obstructive jaundice. Forty-four Wistar Albino rats weighing in average 200-250 g were divided into four groups: control, sham-operated, normal saline, EGb-761. No surgical procedure and treatment were conducted in the control group (n=10). In sham-operated group (n=10), laparatomy was performed and only common bile duct was mobilized, but no treatment was applied. For the remaining two groups (n=12 in each), after a preliminary treatment including the administration of normal saline and EGb-761 (50 mg/kg) via orogastric intubation for two days, a common bile duct was ligated. Escherichia coli (E. coli) suspension (1010 colony-forming unit bacteria/1 ml) was administered to all groups via orogastric intubation on the day 2 after operation. Twelve hours following the administration of E.coli suspension, blood samples (2 ml) were obtained by cardiac puncture from the rats for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and biochemical analysis. In addition, the terminal ileum and liver samples were taken for histological examination. There was a significant reduction in histopathological changes and in serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alanin aminotransferase (ALT) level in EGb-761 group compared to the control group (p<0.025). According to the PCR results, although the number of E. coli detected rats was smaller in the groups clinically jaundiced and then treated with EGb-761 compared with the saline group, there was no significant difference between the two groups(p>0.05). Although developmental rate of bacterial translocation in rats treated with EGb-761 and normal saline were not statistically significant, EGb-761 significantly reduced pathological changes in liver and terminal ileum in obstructive jaundice.

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