The Effect of Ginkgo Biloba Extract on Macrophage Phagocytic Activity in Experimental Diabetes

Forty-four Swiss albino rats aged two months, weighted 214.00 ± 31.68 g (mean ± SD), were used in these experiments. They were divided into four equal groups as control, alloxan-diabetic, diabetic+GbE and control+GbE groups. After the onset of experimental period, diabetic+GbE and control+GbE groups received ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) and the other groups were given saline solution for ten weeks. Diabetic and diabetic+GbE groups were made diabetic by injecting alloxan on the 16th day. At the end of the experimental period, number of particles ingested by hundred macrophages, was counted under light microscope. The mean phagocytic activity of diabetic group was significantly decreased compared with control group (p<0.05). But the mean phagocytic activities of diabetic+GbE and control+GbE groups were not significantly different from those of the control group.