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Ginkgo biloba |
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| Ginkgo biloba, also known as the Maidenhair tree, is the world’s oldest living species of tree, seemingly identical fossils being
known from rocks as old as 200 million years. Ginkgo biloba is the oldest living tree species. A single tree can live as long as 1,000 years and grow to a height of 120 feet. Ginkgo is a gymnosperm (as opposed to an angiosperm), meaning "naked seed"; its seed embryos are not protected by a seed shell at pollination, but are exposed to the air. Gingkos are dioecious, with separate sexes, some trees being female and others being male. The fruit of the female tree is quite distinctive with a highly disagreeable odour associated with the fleshy outer coating. The Ginkgo is a medium-large deciduous tree with an often angular crown with long, somewhat erratic branches. The leaves are unique among seed-bearing plants, being fan-shaped with veins radiating out with the leaf blade, sometimes bifurcating but never anastomosing (branching). Two veins enter the leaf blade at the base and fork repeatedy into two's; this is known as dichotomous venation. The leaves are 5-15 cm long. The old popular name "Maidenhair tree" is because the leaves resemble some of the pinnae of the Maidenhair fern Adiantum capillus-veneris. The seed is 1.5-2 cm long and contained inside a light yellow-brown coloured, soft fruit-like coating 2-3 cm in diameter. The female tree produces fleshy yellow plumshaped seeds with a strong nauseous odour of rancid butter. The male flowers are small, green catkins, while the female flowers are small, green, and globular-shaped, which form into small, plum-shaped, foul-smelling fruits. The tree grows in fertile, well-drained soil in sun or light shade. The leaves are borne both on the more rapidly-growing branch tips, where they are alternate and spaced out, and also on short, stubby spur shoots, where they are clustered at the tips. |
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Active constituents of ginkgo biloba |
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| The leaves of Ginkgo biloba contain flavonoid glycosides, diterpenes (including terpene compounds called ginkgolides), bioflavones, quercitin, isorhamnetine kaempferol, proanthocyanidins, bilobetin, ginkgetin, isoginkgetin, sciaopitysin, sitosterols, lactones, anthocyanin. The seeds contain alkaloids, cyanogenetic glycosides and phenols. The terpene lactones found in GBE, known as ginkgolides and bilobalide. Ginkgolides improve blood flow by dilating blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of platelets by interfering with a blood protein known as the platelet activating factor, or PAF. Flavonoids have potent antioxidant effects. |
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Medicinal uses and health benefits of ginkgo biloba |
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| Ginkgo biloba has been shown to have certain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Ginkgo biloba may be used in the treatment of blood flow disorders (circulatory disorders), such as thrombosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and peripheral
arterial disease. It's effective in treating mental decline (dementia) in those with documented memory impairment. Ginkgo biloba has also proven useful for memory and concentration problems, anxiety, stress, and mood problems caused by decreased blood flow in the brain (cerebral insufficiency). Asthma and allergies that cause inflammation in the respiratory system can also be relieve with ginkgo biloba.
Ginkgo biloba increases blood flow to the brain and throughout the body's blood vessels that provide blood and oxygen to the organ systems. Ginkgo biloba increases metabolism efficiency, regulates neurotransmitters, and oxygen levels in the brain. Enhanced circulation in the brain includes improved short and long term memory, reaction time and mental clarity. Ginkgo biloba helps control the transformation of cholesterol to plaque associated with the hardening of arteries, and may relax constricted blood vessels. Ginkgo has been shown to be a supportive herb for treating infertility or impotence in males. Ginkgo biloba aids in preventing damage to organs from free radicals, and also blocks the platelet activating factor which causes some skin disorders such as psoriasis. Ginkgo biloba also helps in the treatment of eye and ear disorders. Recent studies have shown that Ginkgo helps reduce altitude sickness.
The primary benefits of ginkgo seem to derive from its ability to promote the dilation of blood vessels, which improves blood flow throughout the body. By regulating the tone and elasticity of blood vessels, ginkgo increases blood flow to the brain and extremities. Taking ginkgo by mouth may reduce pain and increase the distance that patients with intermittent claudication can walk without pain. Blood circulation is increased to many other areas of the body with the use on ginkgo extract. Ginkgo biloba extract may enhance the treatment of erectile dysfunction due to poor blood flow resulting from atherosclerosis of the penis. It increased movement of blood to the eyes which has the effect of reducing the onset of blindness and other ocular blood flow disorders. By improving circulation, the herb can ease dizziness, migraine headaches and a perpetual ringing in the ears that doctors call tinnitus. Ginkgo may assist in the treatment and prevention of stroke.
Increased blood circulation also improves memory by creating a greater flow of oxygen to the brain. Ginkgolides and bilobalides have strong antioxidant properties which can minimise cumulative free radical damage in brain. It is considered particularly useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, helping to improve cognitive function. Ginkgo has been shown more effective on more patients than the synthetic conventional drugs to treat dementia. Ginkgo may be useful in the management of asthma, autoimmune diseases, kidney inflammation, gastric ulcers, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory skin diseases, arthritis and nervous disorders. |
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Dosage and administration of ginkgo biloba |
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| A total daily intake of 120 milligrams is usually recommended, divided into two or three doses. For treatment of dementia, mild depression, intermittent claudication, and improvement of cognitive abilities, higher doses 240 mg per day are recommended. |
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Side effects, precautions, interactions |
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| Generally, ginkgo is considered safe for long-term use at recommended dosages. Exceeding a daily dose of 240 mg of the dried ginkgo biloba extract may result in restlessness, diarrhea, and mild gastrointestinal disorders. People with persistent headaches should stop taking ginkgo. Do not use unprocessed leaf, because the unprocessed ginkgo leaf contains ginkgolic acids that are toxic. Ginkgo should not be used by people who are taking the anti-depressant drugs known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or pregnant women. |
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Ginkgo Biloba-24% is a potent standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba, helpful for supporting improved short-term memory and mild memory problems associated with aging. With the added benefit of assisting in healthy circulation, Ginkgo biloba has been used in over 400 studies and recommended by healthcare professionals worldwide. Ginkgo Biloba-24% is standardized to contain 24% ginkgoflavonglycosides, 6% terpene lactones and 2% bilobalide, to provide the most beneficial fractions of the ginkgo leaf and ensure the finest botanical extract available. Click here for more information.