|
|
| General
Information |
Common Name: |
Ginkgo Biloba |
|
Latin
Name:
|
Ginkgo
Biloba |
|
Family:
|
gingkoaceae |
| Other
Names: |
 |
Maidenhair
tree.
|
|
| Indications
& Historical Uses |
Ginkgo
biloba is one of the world's oldest living tree species. It is considered
a sacred tree in China, and has been used in oriental medicine since
ancient times, mainly to improve brain function, and for respiratory
ailments. Currently, its main indications are:
|
Macular degeneration of retina.
|
|
Allergies.
|
|
Asthma.
|
|
Cerebral vascular insufficiency, vertigo, headaches, tinnitus.
|
|
Senility, memory loss, Alzheimer's disease, dementia.
|
|
Peripheral vascular (arterial) disease.
|
|
Raynaud's Syndrome, numbness, tingling.
|
|
Ischaemia, edema, hypoxia.
|
|
Impotence and erectile dysfunction.
|
|
Migraine.
|
|
| Contraindications
& Precautions |
|
Contraindications:
None Known. See Caution.
Precautions:
Rare cases of gastric upset or headaches. Ginkgo seeds and fruit
pulp are toxic if ingested. Contact with ginkgo fruit may lead
to a allergic skin reaction,. similar to poison ivy, with possible
redness ,itching and blistering.There may actually be a cross-reactivity
between gingko fruit and poison ivy, oak and sumac .Children in
Asia who have ingested as many as sixty gingko seeds have suffered
seizures and loss of consciousness.See
Caution.
Adverse
Side Effects:
Relatively
uncommon. Minor gastrointestinal disturbances, headache, allergic
sun reactions in 4% of individuals.
Drug
Interactions:
See
Caution.
Ginkgo can have anticoagulant activity, and can therefore potentiate
the effects of anticoagulant and antithrombotic drugs like ASA,
anti-inflammatories and warfarin or coumadin. Patients on these
drugs should watch for bleeding.
|
| Dosage
Information |
|
How
Supplied:
|
60
mg capsules. |
|
Dosage:
|
120mg
daily. (One 60 mg. capsule twice daily with meals). |
| Pharmacology
|
|
The
therapeutic effects of ginkgo biloba are attributed to a mixture
of the active ingredients, especially the flavo glycosides, which
have free radical and anti-oxidant properties; and the terpenes,
which have anti-inflammatory properties. A principal effect is
by inhibition of the platelet activating factor (PAF).
PAF,
produced by many tissues, is associated with aggregation of platelets,
as well as causing broncho constriction, vasoconstriction, chemotaxis
of phagocytes, hypotension, and the release of inflammatory compounds
of phagocytes. By inhibiting PAF, ginkgo blocks all these effects,
and therefore reduces clotting, bronchospasm and other allergic
responses.
Bilobalide
acts in concert with the ginkgolides to enhance cerebral circulation
and increase oxygen flow to the brain tissue and hence the cognitive
benefits. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported
the results of the first controlled study of Ginkgo in the US.
This showed that 33% of Alzheimer's patients showed a modest improvement
in cognitive performance and social behaviour. The researchers
claim that this is approximately equivalent to a six month delay
in the progression of the disease.
Federal
health authorities in Germany have declared GBE (Gingko biloba
extract ) to be an effective treatment for cerebral circulatory
disturbances resulting in reduced functional capacity and vigilance.
These
authorities have also found the extract useful for the treatment
of certain other types of circulatory diseases, particularly Intermittent
Claudication. When Ginkgo leaf extract was given to diabetic patients,
peripheral blood flow increased 40 to 50 %. In addition, patients
with arterial disease of the lower limbs who receive Ginkgo extract
have shown a clinically and statistically significant improvement
in pain-free walking distance, maximum walking distance and in
circulation measurements.
Other
Circulatory Benefits are noted in patients with hearing problems
due to poor circulation in the ear. It is reported that about 40
% of these patients have improved hearing after six months of treatment
with Ginkgo extract. Two other important benefits of gingko are
in the areas of sexual dysfunction and asthma control.
|
Sexual
function benefits: Ginkgo has also been found to improve
sexual dysfunction caused by SSRI medications such as Prozac,
Luvox, Paxil, and Zoloft. It was accidentally noted that
a patient taking SSRI medication experienced improvement
in sexual function when he began taking Ginkgo to improve
cognitive function. Studies to date are very encouraging,
and show that about 80% of SSRI patients show a positive
response to Ginkgo biloba extract.
|
|
Asthma
control benefits are due to gingkos anti allergic properties.
The gingkolides appear to inhibit a key chemical mediator
( in asthma , allergies and inflammation ) -platelet activating
factor-apparently preventing it from latching on to its
membrane receptor. In so doing ,gingko can limit the allergic
response .This was demonstrated in a study of asthma patients
who were given a standardized mixture of mixed gingkolides
[60mg three times a day] and a final 120mg dose before the
challenge test ,or a placebo. They were then challenged
with a substance they were allergic to and which normally
caused a response. The findings suggest that gingkolides
may help in both the early and the late phases of the airway
hyper-reactivty. It is very important that the use of gingko
for asthma is directed and supervised by a physcian .Gingko
is not a bronchodilator and cannot be used as a quick-relief
medication.
|
|
|
Active
Ingredients:
|
The
two main classes of chemicals in Gingko Biloba are Flavanoids and
terpenoids. Flavanoids:
|
Flavonol
and Flavone Glycosides, principally Quercetin and Kaempferol
Glycosides..
|
|
Rutin.
|
|
Terpenoids.
|
|
Ginkgolides
A, B, C, & M.
|
|
Bilobalide.
|
|
|
Enhancing
Agents:
|
|
Duis
autem vel eum
|
|
Vel
illum dolore
|
|
Feugiat
nulla facilisis.
|
|
| Origin |
|
Gingko
biloba is one of the World's oldest living tree species, to have
survived for more than 200 million years in China, and has since
become popular as a stately ornamental tree in parks.,gardens
and city streets around the World. Gingko trees are tall, hardy
trees , highly resistant to insects and disease. Both the male
and female versions have leathery, fan shaped leaves that turn
golden in autumn; female type bears an inedible foul-smelling
fruit . Gingko biloba is now found all over the World.
|
| Processing |
|
Green
leaves are harvested in the fall, and air-dried. They are then
extracted in a water and acetone mixture, filtered and concentrated
to a standardized potency of 24%flavone glycosides and 6%terpenes.
|
| Scientific
References |
|
Bauer,
U. (1984) 6 Month double-blind randomized clinical trial
of Ginkgo Biloba extract versus placebo in two parallel
groups of patients suffering from peripheral arterial insufficiency.
Arzneim-Forsch. /Drug Res. 34:716.
|
|
Brown, D. (1992) Ginkgo Biloba-Old and New: Part I. Let's
Live 60(4): 46. Chung, K. F. et al. (1987) Effect of a ginkgolide
mixture (BN 52063) in antagonizing skin and platelet responses
to platelet activating factor in man. Lancet, Jan
31.
|
|
Hindmarch,
I. (1986) Activite de l'extrait de Ginkgo biloba sure la
memoire a court terme/ Activity of Ginkgo Biloba extract
on short term memory. Presse Medicale. 15:1592.
|
|
Kleijnen, J. and Knipschild, P. (1992) Ginkgo biloba. Lancet
340(7): 1136.
|
|
Mowrey,
D. (1988) Guaranteed Potency Herbs. Next Generation Herbal
Medicine. Lehi, UT: Cormorant Books.
|
|
Sikora,
R. et al. (1989) Ginkgo biloba extract in the therapy of
erectile dysfunction.
|
|
J. Urol. 141: 188A.
|
|
Vorberg, G. (1985) GBE: long term study concerning the major
symptoms of age-related cerebral disorders. Clin. Trials.
J. 22:149.
|
|
Weiner, M. (1990) Weiner's Herbal. Mill Valley: Quantum
Books.
|
|
Bradberry, J.C.: "Chapter 18" in Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic
Approach, J.T. DiPiro, R.L. Talbert, P.E. Hayes, G.C. Yee,
and L.M. Posey, eds., Elsevier, New York, 1989, p. 280.
|
|
Tyler, V.E.: Nutrition Forum 8:23 (1991).
|
|
Del Tredici, P.: Arnoldia 51: 2-15 (1991)
|
|
Hansel, R.: Phytopharmaka, 2nd ed., Springer-Verlag,
Berlin, 1991, pp. 59-72.
|
|
Brestel, E.P. and Van Dyke, K.: "Chapter 42" in Modern Pharmacology,
3rd ed., C.R. Craig and R.E. Stitzel, eds., Little, Brown,
Boston, 1991, pp. 567-569.
|
|
Weiss, R.F.: Herbal Medicine, AB Arcanum, Gothenburg, Sweden,
1988, pp. 185-186.
|
|
Prescriber's letter- Therapeutic uses of Herbs. Oct.1998.
|
|
|