Protective effects of Gingko biloba extract 761 on myocardial infarction via improving the viability of implanted mesenchymal stem cells in the rat heart

When introduced into the infarcted heart, bone marrow‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) prevent the heart from deleterious remodeling and improve its recovery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) 761 on the infarcted myocardium microenvironment following MSC transplantation. The established rat myocardial infarction (MI) model, with implanted PKH‑26 marked MSCs (1x105 cells), were randomly divided into two groups: The control group (injected with normal saline) and the EGb 761 treatment group (injected with 100 mg/kg/day EGb 761). The following indices for cardiac function, including the extent of inflammation, oxidative stress, MSC apoptosis and MSC differentiation were measured 1, 2 and 7 days after treatment. The anti‑inflammatory effect of EGb 761 was observed by histological examination. Compared with the respective control group, the malondialdehyde content significantly decreased and the superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity significantly increased in the EGb761‑treated groups. In addition, the apoptotic index gradually decreased (P