Health benefits of Ginkgo biloba

The resistance of Gingko biloba made scientist and doctors wonder what on Ginkgo could be so powerful to be able to defeat all kinds of pests, viruses, bacterias and so on. We saw a similar effect on other natural wonders when we talked about caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis, a honeybee product that showed its biological properties to enhance the immune response in several studies [1], being able to inhibit growth of breast cancer stem cells, and the ultimate reason for which beehives never get infected either by viruses or bacterias.

The first studies on Ginkgo biloba where focused on identifying the active constituents of the plant, mainly to be able to separate those ones and study them apart in order to evaluate its effectiveness. The first studies on this plant concluded that Ginkgo contained more than 40 different active constituents, but further research on those ones found that only two of them have a major impact on the traditional medicinal effects claimed by the users of this plant extract, terpenoids and flavonoids.

As only those two active constituents were found to be effective fort the treatment of certain affections and also to improve certain human functions (blood circulation, cognitive function...etc.), laboratories and research centers concentrated their efforts on producing extracts of this plant rich on those two active constituents, flavonoids and terpenoids.

In spite Ginkgo biloba is one of the most sold traditional herbal medicines in the world, only a very few companies manufacture Ginkgo biloba standardized leaf extracts, EGb761 from Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH is one of them, containing a 22 to 27 % of flavonoid glycosides and 5 to 7 % terpene lactones [7]. Image Right: Ginkgo by Kazuhiko Teramoto under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

Some studies concluded that EGb 761 was even able to inhibit the progression of human colon cancer cells [8]. In another large placebo-controlled study EGb 761 demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of dementia [9]. But let's see what are those two active constituents and which effects they have on our health:

• FLAVONOIDS

Flavonoids are natural antioxidants found in plants, and responsible for some of the health benefits of Ginkgo biloba. For example, Apigenin, a natural flavonoid found in many herbs as for example Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), as well as in apples, celery and also in some spices as oregano, tarragon, cilantro, basil and parsley, is a flavonoid believed to have some influence over the mild sedative effects claimed by this herb. In recent scientific studies, this flavonoid, apigenin, was found to also act as an anti-inflammatory agent [1]. The National Toxicology Program from the US Government cited in one of its articles[3].

Anthocyanidins are the most abundant type of flavonoid [4] and they are responsible for the blue or purple colour present in blueberries, cherries, grapes, blackberries and others[5]. Actually a little bit more than 500 anthocyanidins have been found [6] in different herbs, plants and natural sources.

• TERPENOIDS

Terpenoids are known for their antibacterial, antineoplastic and scent properties [2]. They are also giving this yellow characteristic color to flowers and contribute to the flavor of cinnamon and the scent of eucalyptus [2].

GINKGO BILOBA PROTECTS THE BRAIN ASTROCYTES

Scientists and researchers known how important is the protective effect for astrocytes in all areas of hippocampal formation. Astrocytes are glial cells in the brain and spinal cord and are the most abundant cell of the human brain [13]. Image left: Ginkgo leaf by Herbcyclopedia under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

Astrocytes perform many functions, they are in charge of the provision of nutrients to the nervous tissue, they repair the brain and spinal cord following traumatic injuries and are involved in the scarring process that follows [13], but it seems some type of oxidative stress appears to be responsible for the mitochondrial damage within these specialized astrocytes.

Astrocytes also possess neuroprotective properties in disorders like hypoxia, ischemia, seizure activity and peripheral nerve damage  a potential cognitive enhancer for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease [11].

GINKGO BILOBA IS A POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANT

This oxidative stress and mitochondrial failure promotes altered protein degradation, reduced neurotransmission, synapse loss and tau/hyperphosphorylation, which are early stages in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) [12].

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) reduces oxidative stress and improves mitochondrial respiration and thus may be useful in preventing or slowing down the progression of Alzheimer's disease, increasing also the production of adenosine triphosphate in neurons [12].

 

GINKGO BILOBA PROTECTS YOU AGAINST INFLUENZA VIRUS

At least one study on the subject has shown inhibitory effects of Ginkgo biloba against influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and influenza B viruses, results that demonstrated interesting and important insights into the screening system for anti-influenza virus activity [14].