# Active Components of Ginkgo biloba Flower Attenuate Radiation-Induced Cognitive Impairment via Inhibiting Ferroptosis

## TL;DR

A compound from Ginkgo biloba flowers helps protect the brain from radiation damage by preventing a type of cell death called ferroptosis.

## Contribution

The study identifies a new therapeutic candidate and a novel regulatory axis for combating ferroptosis in radiation-induced brain injury.

## Key findings

- GBF-8 administration improved cognitive function and reduced neuroinflammation in a mouse model of RBI.
- GBF-8's protective effects are linked to the inhibition of ferroptosis.
- The Slc7a11–Eif4ebp1 axis was identified as the primary target of GBF-8.

## Abstract

Radiation-induced brain injury (RBI) is a severe complication of cranial radiotherapy that poses a significant clinical challenge due to a lack of effective treatments. Ferroptosis, an oxidative stress-driven cell death pathway, has been implicated in its pathogenesis. Here, we report that 75% ethanol (GBF-8), a novel subfraction isolated from male Ginkgo biloba flowers, confers significant protection against RBI. In a murine RBI model, GBF-8 administration restored cognitive function and alleviated neuroinflammation. We demonstrated that this neuroprotective effect is mechanistically linked to ferroptosis inhibition. Integrated proteomic and metabolomic profiling identified the Solute carrier family 7 member 11 (Slc7a11)–Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4E Binding Protein 1 (Eif4ebp1) axis as the primary target of GBF-8. This work not only establishes GBF-8 as a promising therapeutic candidate but also delineates a previously unrecognized regulatory axis for combating ferroptosis in RBI.