English abstract
abstract: Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the presence of oxidative stress and inflammation in
ischaemic stroke patients by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), and highlysensitivity
C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the early post-ischaemic period, and to determine the role of Ginkgo biloba
therapy in correcting the markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Methods: This study was conducted at Ibn
Seena Hospital, Mosul City, Iraq and included 31 cerebrovascular accident (CVA) patients and 30 healthy controls.
Ischaemic stroke patients were divided into two groups: group I (n = 15) received conventional therapy; group II
(n = 16) received conventional therapy with G. biloba (1500 mg/day) for 30 days. Blood samples were obtained
from patients and controls before treatment and assays done of serum levels of MDA, TAS, and hsCRP. For CVA
patients, a post-treatment blood sample was taken and the same parameters reassessed. Results: Compared with
the controls, patients' serum levels of MDA, and hsCRP were significantly higher (P ≤0.001) and TAS significantly
lower. Group I and II patients reported a significant reduction in serum levels of MDA and hsCRP and a significant
increase in serum levels of TAS, in comparison with pre-treatment levels. There was no significant difference (P =
0.19) in serum MDA levels between groups I and II, whereas, serum TAS levels were significantly higher (P ≤0.01)
and hsCRP significantly lower (P ≤0.01) in group II. Conclusion: Acute stroke is associated with oxidative stress
and inflammatory response in the early period. G. biloba plays a potential role in reducing oxidative damage and inflammatory response.
