Effect of Ginkgo biloba on hippocampus of rats exposed to long-term cellphone radiation

PAPER manual 2018 Animal study Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.14670/hh-11-943 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Effect of Ginkgo biloba on hippocampus of rats exposed to long-term cellphone radiation Gevrek, F. Histopathological, immunohistochemical, and stereological analysis of the effect of Ginkgo biloba (Egb761) on the hippocampus of rats exposed to long-term cellphone radiation. Histology and Histopathology. 33(5):463-473. May 2018. DOI: 10.14670/HH-11-943 Abstract Cellular phones are major sources of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) that can penetrate the human body and pose serious health hazards. The increasingly widespread use of mobile communication systems has raised concerns about the effects of cellphone radiofrequency (RF) on the hippocampus because of its close proximity to radiation during cellphone use. The effects of cellphone EMR exposure on the hippocampus of rats and the possible counteractive effects of Ginkgo biloba (Egb761) were aimed to investigate. Rats were divided into three groups: Control, EMR, and EMR+Egb761. The EMR and EMR+Egb761 groups were exposed to cellphone EMR for one month. Egb761 was also administered to the EMR+Egb761 group. Specifically, we evaluated the effect of RF exposure on rat hippocampi at harmful EMR levels (0.96 W/kg specific absorption rate [SAR]) for one month and also investigated the possible impact of Egb761 using stereological, TUNEL-staining, and immunohistochemical methods. An increase in apoptotic proteins (Bax, Acas-3) and a decrease in anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) immuno-reactivity along with a decrease in the total granule and pyramidal cell count were noted in the EMR group. A decrease in Bax and Acas-3 and an increase in Bcl-2 immunoreactivity were observed in rats treated with Egb761 in addition to a decrease in TUNEL-stained apoptotic cells and a higher total viable cell number. In conclusion, chronic cellphone EMR exposure may affect hippocampal cell viability, and Egb761 may be used to mitigate some of the deleterious effects. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

mixed

Population

rats

Sample size

—

Exposure

RF mobile phone · 0.96 W/kg · one month

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed to cellphone EMR (SAR 0.96 W/kg) for one month showed increased apoptotic proteins (Bax, Acas-3), decreased anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2), and reduced granule and pyramidal cell counts in the hippocampus. In the EMR+Egb761 group, Bax and Acas-3 decreased, Bcl-2 increased, TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells decreased, and total viable cell number was higher compared with EMR alone.

Outcomes measured

Hippocampal histopathology
Apoptosis markers (Bax, Acas-3, Bcl-2) immunoreactivity
TUNEL-stained apoptotic cells
Total granule and pyramidal cell counts / viable cell number

Limitations

Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
Exposure frequency not reported
Details of exposure setup (e.g., modulation, distance, daily exposure duration) not reported
Randomization/blinding not described in provided abstract

Suggested hubs

mobile-phones (0.9)
Cellphone RF exposure with reported SAR and hippocampal outcomes in rats.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": 0.95999999999999996447286321199499070644378662109375,
        "duration": "one month"
    },
    "population": "rats",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Hippocampal histopathology",
        "Apoptosis markers (Bax, Acas-3, Bcl-2) immunoreactivity",
        "TUNEL-stained apoptotic cells",
        "Total granule and pyramidal cell counts / viable cell number"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rats exposed to cellphone EMR (SAR 0.96 W/kg) for one month showed increased apoptotic proteins (Bax, Acas-3), decreased anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2), and reduced granule and pyramidal cell counts in the hippocampus. In the EMR+Egb761 group, Bax and Acas-3 decreased, Bcl-2 increased, TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells decreased, and total viable cell number was higher compared with EMR alone.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
        "Exposure frequency not reported",
        "Details of exposure setup (e.g., modulation, distance, daily exposure duration) not reported",
        "Randomization/blinding not described in provided abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "Ginkgo biloba",
        "Egb761",
        "cellphone radiation",
        "radiofrequency",
        "SAR",
        "hippocampus",
        "rats",
        "apoptosis",
        "Bax",
        "caspase-3",
        "Bcl-2",
        "TUNEL",
        "stereology"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Cellphone RF exposure with reported SAR and hippocampal outcomes in rats."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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