Angelica archangelica and Ginkgo biloba Extracts Recover Functional Blood Hemoglobin Derivatives in Rabbits Exposed to High Altitude

Background: Shortage of oxygen is a common condition for residents of high-altitude (HA) areas. In mammals, hemoglobin (Hb) has four derivatives: oxyhemoglobin (Hb-O2), carboxyhemoglo-bin (Hb-CO), sulfhemoglobin (Hb-S), and methemoglobin (Met-Hb). In HA areas, aberrant physio-logical performance of blood hemoglobin is well-established. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the influence of 30 days of HA residence on rabbits' total Hb, Hb derivatives, Hb autooxidation rate, and antioxidant enzymes in comparison to low-altitude control rabbits. Further, the study aimed to investigate the effect of antioxidant-rich Angelica archan-gelica and/or Ginkgo biloba extracts on the same parameters in HA-resident rabbits. Methods: Rabbits subjected to 30 days of HA residence were compared to low-altitude control rabbits. HA-residence rabbits were then orally administered 0.11 g/kg b.wt. of Angelica archangelica and/or Ginkgo biloba extract for 14 days. Hb derivatives and Hb autooxidation rate were measured spectro-photometrically. Antioxidant enzymes were estimated using specialized kits. Results: Compared to low-altitude rabbits, 30-day HA-residence rabbits showed a noticeable increase (p Conclusion: The findings suggest that functional Hb levels may be recovered by oral administration of A. archangelica, G. biloba, or combined treatments. In conclusion, oxidative stress due to living in HA areas may be avoided by supplementation with natural antioxidants.