Ginkgo Biloba By: Lindsey McRae & Lisa MacDonald

Background Ginkgo Biloba is from the leaves of one of the oldest living trees believed to have survived 200 million years –b/c of resistance to insects, pollution, and diseases spread by seed from China to Korea and Japan brought to Europe and North America by European botanists

Properties Ginkgo Biloba extract has two main ingredients: 1.Terpene Lactones (6%): bilobalide (2.6%): increases brain activity by blocking GABA-mediated inhibitory neurotransmission ginkgolides A, B, C (2.8%): platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist 2.Flavonol Glycosides (24%): flavonoids may delay oxidant injury and cell death quercetin (9.5%), kaempferol (10.5%), and isorhamnetin (2.0%)

Therapeutic Applications Aids and Affects increase cognitive function increase blood flow to brain, legs, and other extremities enhance effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs and reduce their side effects counteract vascular insufficiency

Dosage & Toxicity Ginkgo Biloba should be taken for 6-8 weeks before seeing small improvements (3-4 months for larger effects) oral dose of mg 2-3 times daily Ginkgo supplements are not recommended 36 hours before surgery

Adverse effects rare occurrence of side effects –nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, palpitations, restlessness, weakness, and skin rash ingestion or contact with pulp leads to erythema, edema, pruritis and GI irritation should not be used with antithrombotic therapies (eg. warfarin, heparin, aspirin), and extracts of garlic or ginger b/c of PAF antagonistic effects

References Briskin, Donal P. “Medicinal Plants and Phytomedicines. Linking Plant Biochemistry and Physiology to Human Health.” Plant Physiol. Vol. 124, Retrieved 3 June Consumer Lab. “Product Review: Ginko Biloba and Huperzine A – Memory Enhancers.” Posted 21 April Retrieved 3 June Crimmins, Michael T. et al. “The Total Synthesis of Ginkgolide B.” Posted 19 May Retrieved 3 June Ginkgo Biloba. “Ginkgo biloba in Medicine.” 1 Jan Retrieved 3 June Glossary of Eye Terminology. “Macular Degeneration.” University of Maryland. Retrieved 10 June Kolb, Bryan, and Ian Q. Whishaw. An Introduction to Brain and Behaviour. New York, NY: Worth Publishers, Life Extension Foundation. “Ginkgo Biloba.” Retrieved 3 June Niering, Apothekerin P. et al. “H202-Induced Oxidative Stress in H4IIE Cells: Influence of the Flavonoid Kaimpferol.” Retrieved 3 June online.de/gbm/homepage/abstract_detail.php?artikel_id=175http:// online.de/gbm/homepage/abstract_detail.php?artikel_id=175 Platelet Activating Factor. Webster’s Online Dictionary. Retrieved 10 June online-dictionary.org/definition/english/Pl/Platelet+Activating+Factor.htmlhttp:// online-dictionary.org/definition/english/Pl/Platelet+Activating+Factor.html Sierpina, Victor S. et al. (2003) “Ginkgo Biloba.” American Family Physician, 68(5),

Ginkgo Biloba Structures Basic FlavonoidKaempferolQuercetin Isorhamnetin 1Bilobalide Ginkgolide variations