Ginkgo

Tree with deciduous leaves, unique among spermatophytes, because it has two palm-shaped lobes without a central vein like almost all modern plants. The leaves have petioles which are attached to the branches in small groups of 3 or 4 and reach 5 to 15 cm in length - Medium to average in size, the tree can reach 20 to 35 m, with a lifespan of 1250 years. It is a potentially immortal being: it has no natural predators, parasites or diseases. The only unfavourable external factors are human, telluric and climatic hazards.

Latin name

Ginkgo biloba L.

Origin

Naturalised in south-east China (a crop species, the wild version has almost completely vanished). From there, it moved to Japan and Korea in around the 12th century. It is the best-known family of trees, since it has been around for more than 270 million years!

Used part

The leaves.

Active components

Terpene lactones (ginkgolides, bilobalides): are responsible for the neuro-protective action and the improvement of brain function.

Flavonoids: contribute to the antioxidant action.

Usage

Ginkgo is a tree that, for religious reasons, has been planted near Japanese temples. Currently, it is often planted in parks and by the roadside because it is highly resistant to air pollution and diseases, and grows slowly, and of course because it turns exceptionally beautiful shades of golden yellow in autumn. In the East, its seeds are toasted and eaten at special occasions such as weddings and because of their supposed aphrodisiac properties. Ginkgo biloba has been used in traditional popular medicine for thousands of years. Today, it is one of the most important plants in phytotherapy. It enhances performance, memory and reactivity, thanks to the improvement of blood circulation in the brain, among other reasons. _1-7 It contributes to general well-being, especially in the case of stress. _8-11 This is particularly true for people over the age of 45 years. _12-20 Among other reasons, thanks to its powerful antioxidant effect, Ginkgo has a protective effect on the nervous system. _21-26

Bibliographical references

The psychopharmacological effects of Ginkgo biloba extract innormal healthy
volunteers
Subhan Z, Hindmarch I.
Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 1984;4(2):89-93.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6469442
[Activity of Ginkgo biloba extract on short-term memory].
Hindmarch I.
Presse Med. 1986 Sep 25;15(31):1592-4.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2947108
The dose-dependent cognitive effects of acuteadministration of Ginkgo biloba to healthy young volunteers.
Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Wesnes KA.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2000 Sep;151(4):416-23.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11026748
The therapeutic effect of Ginkgo biloba extract in SHRrats and its possible mechanisms based on cerebral microvascularflow and vasomotion.
Zhang J, Fu S, Liu S, Mao T, Xiu R.
Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2000;23(2-4):133-8.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11321432
Acute, dose-dependent cognitive effects of Ginkgo biloba,Panax ginseng and their combination in healthy young volunteers:differential interactions with cognitive demand.
Scholey AB, Kennedy DO.
Hum Psychopharmacol. 2002 Jan;17(1):35-44.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12404705
Neuromodulatory property of standardized extract Ginkgobiloba L. (EGb 761) on memory: behavioral and molecular evidence.
Oliveira DR, Sanada PF, Saragossa Filho AC, Innocenti LR,Oler G, Cerutti JM, Cerutti SM.
Brain Res. 2009 May 7;1269:68-89.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19146837
The memory enhancing effects of a Ginkgo biloba/Panaxginseng combination in healthy middle-aged volunteers.
Wesnes KA, Ward T, McGinty A, Petrini O.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2000 Nov;152(4):353-61.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11140327
Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexualdysfunction.
Cohen AJ, Bartlik B.
J Sex Marital Ther. 1998 Apr-Jun;24(2):139-43.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9611693
Effects of Ginkgo biloba on mental functioning in healthyvolunteers.
Cieza A, Maier P, Pöppel E.
Arch Med Res. 2003 Sep-Oct;34(5):373-81.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14602503

10. Anti-stress effects of Ginkgo biloba and Panax ginseng: acomparative study.
Rai D, Bhatia G, Sen T, Palit G.
J Pharmacol Sci. 2003 Dec;93(4):458-64.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14737017
[Value of standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) inthe management of congestive symptoms of premenstrual syndrome].
Tamborini A, Taurelle R.
Rev Fr Gynecol Obstet. 1993 Jul-Sep;88(7-9):447-57.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8235261
A double-blind, placebo controlled study of Ginkgo bilobaextract ('tanakan') in elderly outpatients with mild to moderatememory impairment.
Rai GS, Shovlin C, Wesnes KA.
Curr Med Res Opin. 1991;12(6):350-5.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2044394
Ginkgo biloba for cerebral insufficiency.
Kleijnen J, Knipschild P.
Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1992 Oct;34(4):352-8.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1457269
Effect of two doses of ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) onthe dual-coding test in elderly subjects.
Allain H, Raoul P, Lieury A, LeCoz F, Gandon JM, d'Arbigny P.
Clin Ther. 1993 May-Jun;15(3):549-58.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8364946
The effects of acute doses of standardized Ginkgo bilobaextract on memory and psychomotor performance in volunteers.
Rigney U, Kimber S, Hindmarch I.
Phytother Res. 1999 Aug;13(5):408-15.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10441781
An examination of the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extractEGb761 on the neuropsychologic functioning of cognitively intactolder adults.
Mix JA, Crews WD Jr.
J Altern Complement Med. 2000 Jun;6(3):219-29.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10890330
The efficacy of ginkgo for elderly people with dementiaand age-associated memory impairment: new results of a randomizedclinical trial.
van Dongen MC, van Rossum E, Kessels AG, Sielhorst HJ,Knipschild PG.
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000 Oct;48(10):1183-94.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11037003
Cognitive performance, SPECT, and blood viscosity inelderly non-demented people using Ginkgo biloba.
Santos RF, Galduróz JC, Barbieri A, Castiglioni ML, Ytaya LY,Bueno OF.
Pharmacopsychiatry. 2003 Jul;36(4):127-33.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12905098
[The effect of ginkgo biloba on healthy elderlysubjects].
Cieza A, Maier P, Pöppel E.
Fortschr Med Orig. 2003;121(1):5-10.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15117063

20. Timing of onset of cognitive decline: results fromWhitehall II prospective cohort study
Archana Singh-Manoux, Mika Kivimaki, Maria Glymour, AlexisElbaz, Claudine Berr, Klaus P Ebmeier, Jane E Ferrie, AlineDugravot
BMJ 2012;344:d7622
British Medical Journal:http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.d7622
Superoxide anion scavenging effect and superoxidedismutase activity of Ginkgo biloba extract.
Pincemail J, Dupuis M, Nasr C, Hans P, Haag-Berrurier M,Anton R, Deby C.
Experientia. 1989 Aug 15;45(8):708-12.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2547645
Antioxidant effect of a Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761)on the retina.
Droy-Lefaix MT, Cluzel J, Menerath JM, Bonhomme B, Doly M.
Int J Tissue React. 1995;17(3):93-100.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8867648
In vitro antioxidant effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) on lipoperoxidation induced by hydrogen peroxide inerythrocytes of Behçet's patients.
K Köse, P Doğan, M Aşçioğlu, O Aşçioğlu
Jpn J Pharmacol. 1997 Nov ;75 (3):253-8
BioInfoBank Library: http://lib.bioinfo.pl/paper:9434256
[Effect of Ginkgo biloba L leaves on oxidation of humanlow density lipoproteins in vitro].
Huang P, Feng G, Zhang S, Wang H, Jin Y.
Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2004 Jul;33(4):453-4, 2 p following 520.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15461274
[Effect of flavonoids of ginkgo biloba on anti-oxidizingsystem of mice after acute alcohol administration].
Yao P, Liu LG, Jia WB, Song FF, Zhou S, Zhang X, Sun X.
Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2005 May;34(3):303-6.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16111036
Protective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGB 761) onastrocytes of rat hippocampus after exposure with scopolamine.
Jahanshahi M, Nikmahzar E, Yadollahi N, Ramazani K.
Anat Cell Biol. 2012 Jun;45(2):92-6.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22822463
The CNS effects of Ginkgo biloba extracts and ginkgolideB.
Maclennan KM, Darlington CL, Smith PF.
Prog Neurobiol. 2002 Jun;67(3):235-57.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12169298

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