Potential hepatic and renal toxicity induced by the biflavonoids from Ginkgo biloba

Publication date: September 2019Source: Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines, Volume 17, Issue 9Author(s): Yun-Ying LI, Xiao-Yan LU, Jia-Li SUN, Qing-Qing WANG, Yao-Dan ZHANG, Jian-Bing ZHANG, Xiao-Hui FANAbstractEvidence continues to grow on potential health risks associated with Ginkgo biloba and its constituents. While biflavonoid is a subclass of the flavonoid family in Ginkgo biloba with a plenty of pharmacological properties, the potential toxicological effects of biflavonoids remains largely unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo toxicological effects of the biflavonoids from Ginkgo biloba (i.e., amentoflavone, sciadopitysin, ginkgetin, isoginkgetin, and bilobetin). In the in vitro cytotoxicity test, the five biflavonoids all reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) and human normal hepatocytes (L-02), indicating they might have potential liver and kidney toxicity. In the in vivo experiments, after intragastrical administration of these biflavonoids at 20 mg·kg−1·d−1 for 7 days, serum biochemical analysis and histopathological examinations were performed. The activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly increased after all the biflavonoid administrations and widespread hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes was observed in ginkgetin or bilobetin-treated mice. Moreover, the five biflavonoids all induced acute kidney injury in treated mice and the main pathological...
Source: Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research