Background: Isotretinoin is a systemic retinoid derived from vitamin A that is widely used for the treatment of severe recalcitrant acne.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Forty male albino mice were segregated into four groups, the first group was the control, the second group was treated with an oral administration of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) 120 mg/kg, the third group was treated with an oral administration of isotretinoin (ISO) 40 mg/kg and the fourth group was pre-treated with GBE one hour prior to the ISO administration. Liver enzymes, lipid profile and pro-inflammatory mediators histamine (HA) and prostaglandin (PG) were estimated. Histopathological and histochemical examination for liver and spleen were also performed. 
 
Result: Liver and spleen indices, liver enzymes and lipid profile were significantly higher due to treatment of ISO (p&le;0.05) compared to control, which decreased significantly in the group treated with GBE and ISO compared to the third group. In contrast, pro-inflammatory mediators showed no alterations among groups. Additionally, histopathological examination revealed severe hepatocytic degeneration and massive inflammation in ISO-treated group besides great edema and hemorrhage in spleen. GBE pre-treatment to ISO resulted in the decline of the pathological signs in liver and spleen. Intense TNF-&alpha; expression was expressed in liver and spleen of animals ISO-treated that was significantly down regulated in animals GBE pre-treated to ISO. The findings demonstrated that isotretinoin (ISO) caused marked adverse physiological and histopathological changes in hepatic and splenic tissues, while Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) exerted a protective effect against liver and spleen injury.

Defensive Influence of Ginkgo Biloba Extract on Toxicity Induced by Isotretinoin in Swiss Albino Mice