A study of the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on MK801 induced forgetfulness in rats

Introduction: Many people with amnesia would like to try herbal therapies. Ginkgo biloba is one of the most popular herbs which is used to treat amnesia. The beneficial effects of this plant, however, has not been scientifically assessed yet. Although, there have been some reports on the memory enhancement effect of Ginkgo biloba, the mechanism of its action is not yet explained well. Considering the role of glutaminergic system in learning and memory, the current study was intended to investigate the role of NMDA receptors in the effect of Ginkgo biloba intake on amnesia. Methods: The study used passive avoidance method to investigate the effect of dried extracts of Ginkgo biloba (40 milligram pills) on the memory span of male Wistar rats, suffering from MK801-induced forgetfulness (NMDA receptor antagonist). ANOVA was used to evaluate the results. Result: Ginkgo biloba was able to remove MK801-induced forgetfulness (P<0/001) indicating that the extract can affect learning and memory, using pathways other than glutaminergic system. Conclusion: The results might indicate that Ginkgo extract can be effective in treating non-acute amnesia caused by inhibiting NMDA receptors.