Abstract
Effect of an extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves (EGb) on oxidative metabolism was studied using rat brain neurons and 2'', 7''-dichlorofluorescin fluorescence. lonomycin (100 nM to 1 μM), a Ca2+ -ionophore, dose-dependently augmented the 2'', 7''-dichlorofluorescin fluorescence in the presence of external Ca2+, but not under the external Ca2+ -free condition. Preincubation of neurons with EGb (3 μg/ml) greatly reduced the ionomycin-induced increase in 2'', 7''-dichlorofluorescin fluorescence. Results suggest that EGb may reduce the Ca2+ -induced increase in the oxidative metabolism of brain neurons.
