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Extract of Ginkgo biloba induces glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC)
Author(s) -
Liu XiaoPing,
Goldring Christopher E. P.,
Wang HaiYi,
Copple Ian M.,
Kitteringham Neil R.,
Park B. Kevin,
Wei Wei
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.2328
Subject(s) - gclc , ginkgo biloba , glutathione , antioxidant , gclm , biochemistry , pharmacology , chemistry , dna ligase , biology , enzyme
The extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb), containing 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpenoids, is widely used to treat early‐stage Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, peripheral claudication and vascular tinnitus. Its marked antioxidant activity has recently been demonstrated in both cell lines and animals. Glutathione (GSH) plays an important role in the antioxidant system by conjugating to xenobiotics to facilitate their export from cells. Glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) is the rate‐limiting enzyme for GSH synthesis and its catalytic subunit (GCLC) determines this de novo synthesis. Thus, induction of GCLC is a strategy to enhance the antioxidant capability in cells. The present study aimed to investigate the induction effect of EGb on GCLC in HepG2 and Hep1c1c7 cell lines. Real‐time PCR, Western blot and enzyme activity assay were used to detect induction and it was found that GCLC was induced by EGb in these two cell lines. It is suggested that the antioxidant activity of EGb is (or is partly) through the induction of GCLC. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.