Preliminary EEG study of protective effects of Tebonin in transient global cerebral ischemia in rats

Free radicals and platelet activating factor (PAF) have been implicated as important mediators in neuronal injury after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and, particularly, in postischemic hypoperfusion. The electroencephalography (EEG) is a real time reflection of changes in neuronal activity and metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of preventive treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761--Tebonin) in cerebral global ischemia and reperfusion in rats using computerized EEG analysis. Ginkgo biloba extract, known to be, in vitro, a free radicals scavanger and a PAF--antagonist, was administrated in dose of 100 mg/kg over 24 hours, for 5 days before and 5 days after cerebral ischemia--reperfusion. The apparition of isoelectric EEG (flat-line) following 4-vessel occlusion was observed after a mean time of 25 sec. in Ginkgo biloba treated rats and after 18 sec. in control rats (p < 0.0015). Computerized spectral analysis of EEG has shown that the percentage of slow waves at 10 minutes after reperfusion was 117% higher in control group than in Ginkgo biloba group (p < 0.015) and the percentage of slow waves after 15 minutes of reperfusion was 100% higher in the control group than in the Ginkgo biloba group (p < 0.02). Five days after cerebral ischemia--reperfusion the percentage of slow waves was unsignificantly higher in the control group than in the Ginkgo biloba group (p > 0.05).