Abstract:
Alloxan is an organic chemical that reduces blood flow and inhibits cell division.
A histological study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the Ginkgo biloba extract,
EGb 761, on islet blood flow based on the numbers of erythrocyte-filled blood vessels
(EBV) and on islet cell count using a planimetric method in alloxan-treated rat pancreas.
Statistical analysis showed that the alloxan-treated groups had lower numbers of EBV
than in the untreated reference controls (UNT) although the EGb 761
supplemented group (ALX+E) did not differ significantly from the non-supplemented
group (ALX). However, the ALX+E Group had approximately similar islet cell counts
as the UNT Group which were also significantly higher than in the non-supplemented
ALX group. These findings suggest that the fifty-day supplementation of EGb 761 to
contributed to countering the effect of alloxan in renewing the pancreatic islet cells.
