Abstract:
Objective To investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) on the expression of P16Ink4a mRNA, as well as the related protein during aflatoxinB1 (AFB1) induced hepatocarcinogenesis in Wistar rats.
Methods A total of 70 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, namely, AFB1 (25 rats), AFB1 + EGb761 (25 rats), and control (20 rats). During hepatocarcinogenesis, liver biopsies were performed on all animals on the 13th, 33rd, and 53rd weeks of the experiment. The animals were sacrificed on the 73rd week and liver tissues were collected. P16Ink4a mRNA expression in hepatocyte was detected by real-time PCR. The relative protein expression in liver tissue was observed by Western blot analysis.
Results The rate of hepatocellular carcinoma was 58.8 % (10 / 17) in the AFB 1 group, 29.4 % (5 / 17) in the AFB 1 + EGb761 group, and 0.0 % (0 / 16) in the control group. The hepatocellular carcinoma incidence was significantly lower in the AFB1 + EGb761 group than in the AFB1 group (P < 0.05). The expression of P16Ink4a mRNA and the relative protein expression were both significantly higher in the AFB1 + EGb761 group than in the AFB1 group on the 53rd and 73rd weeks of the experiment (P < 0.05).
Conclusion Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 can effectively inhibit the occurrence of liver cancer induced by AFB 1. The mechanism of treatment may be related to the regulation of p 16Ink4a mRNA expression.