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Ginkgo biloba extracts and cancer: a research area in its infancy
Francis V DeFeudis1, Vassilios Papadopoulos, Katy Drieu
1Institute for BioScience, 153 West Main Street, Westboro, MA, USA. defeudis@gis.net
Abstract:
Recent studies conducted with various molecular, cellular and whole animal models have revealed that leaf extracts of Ginkgo biloba may have anticancer (chemopreventive) properties that are related to their antioxidant, anti-angiogenic and gene-regulatory actions. The antioxidant and associated anti-lipoperoxidative effects of Ginkgo extracts appear to involve both their flavonoid and terpenoid constituents. The anti-angiogenic activity of the extracts may involve their antioxidant activity and their ability to inhibit both inducible and endothelial forms of nitric oxide synthase. With regard to gene expression, a Ginkgo extract and one of its terpenoid constituents, ginkgolide B, inhibited the proliferation of a highly aggressive human breast cancer cell line and xenografts of this cell line in nude mice. cDNA microarray analyses have shown that exposure of human breast cancer cells to a Ginkgo extract altered the expression of genes that are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, cell differentiation or apoptosis, and that exposure of human bladder cancer cells to a Ginkgo extract produced an adaptive transcriptional response that augments antioxidant status and inhibits DNA damage. In humans, Ginkgo extracts inhibit the formation of radiation-induced (chromosome-damaging) clastogenic factors and ultraviolet light-induced oxidative stress - effects that may also be associated with anticancer activity. Flavonoid and terpenoid constituents of Ginkgo extracts may act in a complementary manner to inhibit several carcinogenesis-related processes, and therefore the total extracts may be required for producing optimal effects.
Insights
Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts show anticancer potential through antioxidant and gene-regulatory actions. These effects, driven by flavonoids and terpenoids, may inhibit cancer cell proliferation and protect against DNA damage.
Area of Science:
- Phytochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts possess antioxidant and anti-lipoperoxidative properties attributed to flavonoid and terpenoid compounds.
- Extracts exhibit anti-angiogenic activity, potentially via antioxidant effects and inhibition of nitric oxide synthase.
- Previous research suggests potential chemopreventive roles for Ginkgo biloba.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anticancer (chemopreventive) properties of Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects, including antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, and gene-regulatory actions.
- To assess the role of specific constituents like ginkgolide B in cancer cell inhibition.
Main Methods:
- Utilized molecular, cellular, and whole animal models.
- Performed cDNA microarray analyses to study gene expression changes in cancer cells.
- Assessed inhibition of proliferation in human breast cancer cell lines and xenografts.
- Evaluated effects on radiation-induced clastogenic factors and UV-induced oxidative stress in humans.
Main Results:
- Ginkgo biloba extract and ginkgolide B inhibited proliferation of aggressive human breast cancer cells and xenografts.
- Gene expression analysis revealed altered regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.
- Extracts demonstrated adaptive transcriptional responses in bladder cancer cells, enhancing antioxidant status and inhibiting DNA damage.
- In humans, extracts reduced radiation-induced clastogenic factors and UV-induced oxidative stress.
Conclusions:
- Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts exhibit multifaceted anticancer properties, including antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, and gene-regulatory effects.
- Flavonoid and terpenoid constituents likely act synergistically to inhibit carcinogenesis-related processes.
- The findings support the potential of Ginkgo biloba extracts as a chemopreventive agent, with total extracts potentially offering optimal efficacy.