Comparing the role of Ginkgolide B and Ginkgolide K on cultured astrocytes exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation

Ginkgolide B (GB) and ginkgolide K (GK) are two main active monomers of ginkgolides that present a unique group of diterpenes found naturally in the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree. Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type within the central nervous system (CNS) and serve essential roles in maintaining healthy brain function. The present study compared the biological effects of GB and GK on astrocytes exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The results demonstrated that GB and GK exhibit many different actions. The level of the platelet-activating factor (PAF) was elevated on astrocytes exposed to OGD, and inhibited by GB and GK treatment. Although GB and GK inhibited the expression of p-NF-κB/p65, GK exerted stronger anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on astrocytes exposed to OGD than GB by inhibiting interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, and inducing IL-10 and the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2/HO-1 signaling pathway. When compared with GB treatment, GK treatment maintained high levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/phosphorylated-protein kinase B expression, and induced a marked upregulation of Wnt family member 1 and brain derived neurotrophic factor, indicating that GK, as a natural plant compound, may have more attractive prospects for clinical application in the treatment of neurological disorders than GB.