Guest guest Posted September 4, 2004 Report Share Posted September 4, 2004 Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 8:48 pm Vascular & Cognitive Benefits of Ginkgo biloba -------------------------- Extracts from the leaves of the ginkgo biloba tree have been used therapeutically in China for millennia. According to fossil records, the ginkgo tree has been around for over 200 million years and is one of the oldest still existing tree species on earth. Individual trees live up to 1,000 years. Ginkgo, like ginseng, is mentioned in the traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia. Ginkgo extracts are among the most widely studied and prescribed drugs in Europe to alleviate symptoms associated with a wide range of conditions. The main indications for these extracts are peripheral vascular disease and the therapy of age related cognitive decline. Ginkgo biloba is a mind booster underutilized by the medical profession. What's in Ginkgo biloba? Ginkgo contains many different substances but most of them fall into two main categories: Terpenoid lactones and Flavonoids. The most unique components of ginkgo extracts are the terpene trilactones which are structurally complex molecules. Terpene lactones give ginkgo a bitter and strong flavor. The most important terpenes are the ginkgolides and bilobides. Ginkgolides have not yet been found in any other living plant species. Other compounds in ginkgo biloba include proanthocyanidins, carboxylic acids and non-flavone glycosides Flavonoids are natural substances that are also found in fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids act as antioxidants, have an influence on the immune system, and interfere with tumor formation. Ginkgo contains many flavonoids but the most concentrated are kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin. Most ginkgo products on the market list a flavonoid concentration of 24%. You will often see 24% printed on packages or bottles of ginkgo. How Does Ginkgo Work? The active ingredients in gingko are believed to have their beneficial effects by acting as antioxidants, preventing red blood cells and platelets from aggregating to form clots, allowing more oxygen to reach neurons, and improving circulation in tiny blood vessels by inducing 'relaxation' of the muscles surrounding blood vessels. Even circulation to the eyes improves when subjects are given ginkgo. Clinical Uses of ginkgo biloba The primary indications for ginkgo biloba are age related cognitive decline (ARCD) and Alzheimer's disease. Age related cognitive decline isa term that describes a collection of symptoms. These include difficultyin concentration and memory, absent-mindedness, confusion, lack of mental energy, and sometimes, depressive mood. Some of these symptoms may be associated with not enough blood reaching the brain, hence a potential justification for the use of gingko inlessening these symptoms. Ginkgo improves communication between nerve cells and enhances blood flow to the brain. It is licensed in Germany for the treatment of ARCD. Ginkgo may have promise in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's when used together with other conventional medicines. A well publicized study in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that 120 mg of ginkgo extract per day for one year was able to slightly improve cognitive performance in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Ginkgo may show a beneficial effect on attention, memory and functioning in Multiple Sclerosis patients. Patients with dementia are helped by ginkgo. It is unlikely that those with normal memory function will notice a significant effect from ginkgo. Ginkgo Biloba-24%, 90 Capsules - Enzymatic Therapy Enzymatic Therapy's Ginkgo Biloba-24% is standardized for its potency and natural constituents to produce the finest botanical extract available to support improved short-term memory and mild memory problems. Developed in accordance with monograph standards set forth by the German Commission E. Ginkgo and Liver Ginkgo is able to protect the liver from damage since it has antioxidantproperties, prevents lipid peroxidation and replenishes the glutathione level. The effects of ginkgo were comparable to that of silymarin. What Dosages of Ginkgo Are Best? The majority of the studies done thus far with ginkgo have used dailydosages of 120 to 160 mg (50:1 concentration, 24% flavonoids). Patientsgenerally took 40 milligrams three to four times a day. Treatment may beneeded for a few weeks before positive results can be fully appreciated. Most manufacturers have pills that contain 40 or 60 mg of ginkgo. You may wish to start with one 40 mg pill a day to see if there is any improvement in memory or thinking. Ginkgo is best taken early in the day, and no later than afternoon. Ginkgo has anti-platelet activity and hence may prolong the time it takes to form a blood clot. However, a study published in April, 2003 indicates that Coenzyme Q10 and Ginkgo biloba do not influence the clinical effect of warfarin. An additional study did not find ginkgo to alter platelet function orcoagulation time. Ginkgo Summary Ginkgo biloba appears to be useful in memory loss due to aging or Alzheimer's disease, but is probably of little benefit in the young whohave normal brain function and memory. Middle aged and older individuals may find ginkgo to be helpful in sharpening the mind. For more details,see Mind Boosters book. Because of its antioxidant properties, it may be useful in individuals with cerebrovascular disease. Due to its blood thinning properties, a dose of 60 mg a day should not be exceeded on a daily, long-term basis unless a health care provider monitors you. Keep in mind that other nutrients and drugs have blood-thinning properties including coumadin, fish oils, and vinpocetine. Ginkgo Research Update Age-related effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on synaptic plasticity andexcitability. Williams B.The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. Neurobiol Aging. 2004 Aug;25(7):955-62. EGb 761 is a standardized extract from the Ginkgo biloba leaf and is purported to improve age-related memory impairment. The acute and chronic effect of Ginkgo biloba on synaptic transmission and plasticity in hippocampal slices from young adult (8-12 weeks) and aged (18-24 months) C57Bl/6 mice was tested because hippocampal plasticity is believed to be a key component of memory. Acutely applied Ginkgo biloba significantly increased neuronal excitability in slices from aged miceby reducing the population spike threshold and increased the early phaseof long-term potentiation, though there was no effect in slices from young adults. In chronically treated mice fed for 30 days with an Ginkgo biloba-supplemented diet, Ginkgo biloba significantly increased the population spike threshold and long-term potentiation in slices from aged animals, but had no effect on slices from young adults. The rapid effects of Ginkgo biloba on plasticity indicate a direct interaction with the glutamatergic system and raise interesting implications withrespect to a mechanism explaining its effect on cognitive enhancement inhuman subjects experiencing dementia. Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 in the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD)--a review based on randomized, controlled studies. Surgical Department, Hospital Porz/Rhein, Koln, Germany. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Feb;42(2):63-72. OBJECTIVE: The present review gives an overview and evaluation of clinical studies proving the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba special extractEGb 761 in patients with PAOD. Relevant original papers and reports onthis topic were identified by means of a literature search. Onlyrandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials in patientswith the indication peripheral arterial occlusive disease in stage IIwere included (only treatment with the oral form of Ginkgo biloba. Forthe selected studies the ratio theta of the walking distance between Ginkgo biloba and placebo was calculated and a test for relevant superiority of Ginkgo biloba was performed. In the majority of the studies, there was an advantage of Ginkgo biloba in the increase of pain-free walking distance compared to placebo. For 7 studies, the advantage was found to be statistically significant. Testing the relevant superiority showed a significant result in 6 of the selectedstudies. The pooled estimator of the ratio amounts to theta = 1.23 (95%CI: 1.16, 1.31) and demonstrates the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba over placebo as well. CONCLUSIONS: This review confirms the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761. It demonstrates not only the statistical significance of the difference of Ginkgo biloba with respectto placebo but also the clinical relevance for the treatment of patients with PAOD. The effect of ginkgo biloba on healthy elderly subjects Cieza A, Maier P, Poppel E. Fortschr Med Orig. 2003;121:5-10. BACKGROUND AND AIM: Over the past 25 years, numerous studies have confirmed the positive effect of the special ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 on the mental ability and emotional well-being of patients with cognitive disorders of vascular genesis, and Alzheimer-type dementia. The following study investigated the short-term effect of the special ginkgo extract EGb 761 on the subjective emotional well-being of healthyelderly subjects. The study was designed as a randomized double- blind,monocenter study with parallel groups. It included 66 healthy subjectsof both sexes aged between 50 and 65 with no age-related cognitive impairments. For a period of 4 weeks, 34 subjects received a daily dose of 240 mg ginkgo biloba , and 32 a placebo. RESULTS: The final examination revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups for the VAS mental health and qualityof life, as also for SIS Mood at the telephone interview in week 2. Acomparison of baseline with the final examination within the groups showed a statistically significant improvement in the ginkgo biloba group for the variables: depression, fatigue, anger and SDS. For none of the variables investigated was a worsening observed in the ginkgo bilobagroup. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a positive effect of ginkgo biloba on the subjective emotional well-being of healthy elderly persons. Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 in dementia: intent-to-treat analyses of a24-week, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.Kanowski S, Hoerr R. Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freien Universitat Berlin. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2003 Nov;36(6):297-303. In 1996, Kanowski et al. reported about the beneficial effects of ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 (240 mg/day) in outpatients with pre-senile and senile primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and multi-infarct dementia of mild to moderate severity. After 24 weeks of treatment, the ITT analysis of the SKT and estimated ADAS-cog scores revealed a mean decrease in the total score by -2.1 points and -2.7 points, respectively, for the ginkgo biloba group, whichindicates an improvement in cognitive function. On the contrary, the placebo group exhibited only a minimal change of -1.0 and -1.3 points,respectively. The Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI, Item 2) favored the ginkgo biloba group with a mean difference of 0.4 points. Changes in the rating related to activities of daily living showed a favorable trendfor ginkgo biloba. The results of this ITT analysis substantiate the outcomes previously obtained with a responder analysis of the per-protocol population and confirm that ginkgo biloba improves cognitive function in a clinically relevant manner in patients suffering from dementia. The therapeutic effect is in line with the outcome of another ginkgo biloba study conducted in the U.S. A placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. Kyungpook National University, Taegu, South Korea. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2002 Aug;17(6):279-84. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Ginkgo biloba on antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. The Ginkgo biloba (n=19) and the placebo groups (n=1 were divided; each to be administered with Ginkgo biloba and placebo respectively for 2 months by means of a randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind study. The results of this 2month trial were: (1) there was no statistical significant differencefrom the placebo at weeks 2, 4 and 8 after medication; (2) in comparisonwith baseline, both the Ginkgo biloba group and the placebo group showedimprovement in some part of the sexual function, which is suggestive ofthe importance of the placebo effect in assessing sexual function. Thisstudy did not replicate a prior positive finding supporting the use ofGinkgo biloba for antidepressant, especially SSRI, induced sexual dysfunction. Emails about Ginkgo I found that flax oil/fish oil along with vinpocentine in a small dosageand as well ginkgo, again in a small amounts eliminates the symptoms ofMeniere's disease. I had all the symptoms for about a yr and a half. and finally i decided i would do something myself as i could not functionand was offered no solution other than a lot of very expensive tests andprocedures. " yep, you got a problem! " or expensive words to that effect. Q. Just thought I would mention that I have found ginkgo to be a wonderful supplement for the treatment of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) that was do to exposure to loud noise as a teenager. I would notice asignificant improvement a day or two after taking the supplements (100mg2x daily 24% standardization) and the ringing would gradually return after I would stop taking them. After using it on and off for several years the problem has faded into the background and they are now unnecessary. I observed no improvement in memory or concentration, though I might have been taking too little. A. Thanks for your feedback. Some studies do show ginkgo helpful for tinnitus, although my clinical experience with this herb for tinnitushas not shown a consistent beneficial response. http://www.raysahelian.com/ginkgo.html _________________ JoAnn Guest mrsjoguest DietaryTipsForHBP http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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