Ginkgo biloba extracts protect human retinal Müller glial cells from t-BHP induced oxidative damage by activating the AMPK-Nrf2-NQO-1 axis.

This article investigates the protective effects of Ginkgo biloba extracts (GBE), prepared from ginkgo biloba dropping pills, on human retinal Müller glial cells (MIO-M1) subjected to tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative stress. The study demonstrates that GBE pre-treatment enhances cell viability, reduces intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, suppresses lipid peroxidation, and mitigates mitochondrial dysfunction and necrotic cell death, primarily ferroptosis, in these cells. Mechanistically, GBE activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)–nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2)–NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1) antioxidant signaling axis, amplifying endogenous antioxidant defenses insufficiently activated by oxidative stress alone. These findings suggest that GBE may have therapeutic potential in preventing or slowing retinal diseases involving oxidative damage, particularly diabetic retinopathy, by protecting Müller glial cells from oxidative injury.