Nutritional information on Ginkgo biloba extract

What is Ginkgo Biloba?

The Ginkgo is the world's oldest living tree; a species whose existence can be traced back over 200 million years. For this reason Ginkgo is often referred to as "the living fossil." Since it is the most resistant tree to insects, disease, and pollution, the Ginkgo is frequently planted along the streets in cities of U.S.A.

The Ginkgo is associated with longevity and incredible resistance to environmental factos. It  appears tha tingestion of a standardized concentrated extract of Ginkgo Biloba leaves may promote longevity and resistance to aging in humans as well.

Ginkgo's pharmacological activity is due to its high content of terpenes, flavonoids, pro-anthocyanidins and Ginkgo Heterosides (flavoglycosides). Its actions include enhancing energy production, increasing cellular glucose intake and inhibiting platelet aggregation.

Ginkgo Biloba extract also promotes radical scavenging activity, increased blood flow to the brain and improved transmission of nerve signals. In clinical trials, both patients with chronic cerebral arterial insufficiency and peripheral arterial insufficiency respond favorably to Ginkgo Biloba Extract.

Ginkgo Biloba Extract in Chronic Cerebral VAscular Insufficiency

In a large open trial invvolving 112 geriatric patients with chronic cerebral insufficiency, Ginkgo Biloba Extract, at 120 mg/day, displayed a statistically significant regression of the major cerebral vascular insufficiency symptoms. These symptoms included: short-term memory loss, vertigo, headache, ringing in the ears, lack of vigilance, and depression.

The symptoms of decreased cerebral blood flow are extremely common in the geriatric population due to the presence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The significant regression of these symptoms offered by Ginkgo Biloba suggests that vascular insufficiency may be teh major causative factor accounting for "age-related cerebral disorders" versus a true degenerative process. It appears the improved cerebral blood flow from Ginkgo Biloba provides an increase in oxygen and glucose utilization in the brain. This offers relief of the presumed "side effects" of aging and may offer significant protection against the development of these symptoms.

Ginkgo Biloba Improves Mental Performance and Senility

Ginkgo biloba extract has also been shown in clinical studies to increase the rate at which information is transmitted at the nerve cell level. In Hindmarch and Subhan's double-blind study, the time of reaction in healthy young women performing a memory test was improved significantly after the administration of G.B.E.

In another double-blind clinical study, Ginkgo Biloba Extract was shown to produce a restoration of vigilance approaching normal levels and improved mental performance in elderly patients. The findings at the behavorial level correlate with improvements in EEG tracings. The patients with a more unfavorable initial situation, as measured in resting EEG activity, displayed the greatest improvement.

The conclusion of the study was "the results show that chronic G.B.E medication has a positive effect in geriatric subjects with deterioration of mental performance and vigilance. This effect is reflected at the behavioral level."