PHNO10121
| Product Description |
Improved blood flow to the limbs reduces the symptoms of intermittent claudication (pain, cramping) and Raynaud’s disease.
Improved blood flow to the eyes and ears inhibits the development of macular degeneration and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) respectively.
Increased blood flow to the genitalia improves sexual dysfunction.
Increased blood supply to the brain helps to preserve mental function in the elderly.
Once widely distributed, this species was almost destroyed during the last Ice Age in all regions of the world except China, where it has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for several thousand years, particularly for its beneficial effects on brain function in the elderly. Leaves of Ginkgo biloba are used to prepare an extract, the main active ingredients of which are chemical substances called flavone glycosides and terpene lactones. The composition of commercially available extracts of Ginkgo biloba may vary; extracts should be standardized to contain 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones. Unprocessed leaves should not be used (e.g. in teas), as they contain chemicals (removed during processing) which can trigger allergic reactions.
In modern terms, Ginkgo biloba is one of the most thoroughly studied medicinal herbs, with over 1000 research papers (including over 100 controlled clinical trials) documenting its effects published in scientific journals. Of particular note are the reported beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba on blood circulation, via its effects in regulating the tone and elasticityof blood vessels (from capillaries to arteries), and a reduced risk of blood clot formation by inhibiting blood platelet aggregation. Promotion of blood flow in turn has the following benefits:
Improved blood flow to the limbs reduces the symptoms of intermittent claudication (pain, cramping) and Raynaud’s disease.
Improved blood flow to the eyes and ears inhibits the development of macular degeneration and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) respectively.
Increased blood flow to the genitalia improves sexual dysfunction.
Increased blood supply to the brain helps to preserve mental function in the elderly.
Ginkgo biloba extract also has powerful antioxidant activity, protecting tissues (particularly brain tissue) from free radical induced damage, and has been shown to be effective in slowing the progression of symptoms associated with mild to moderate cases of Alzheimer’s dementia. Ginkgo biloba extract now ranks as one of the leading prescription medicines in many countries worldwide.
The pharmacodynamic characteristics of Ginkgo biloba on which the rationale for the above indications is based include effects on microcirculatory rheology (platelet aggregation and thrombus formation), protection of tissues from ischaemic injury resulting from hypoxia, and vasoregulatory action on the whole of the vascular tree (arteries, veins and capillaries). Ginkgo biloba antagonizes arterial spasm, exerts vasodilator action on arterioles and vasoconstrictor action on veins; it regulates venous capacitance in response to postural impairment, decreases capillary hypermeability and reinforces capillary resistance. Ginkgo biloba has a potent anti-oedematous effect at both the cerebral and peripheral level, and protects the haematoencephalephic and haematoretinal barriers (Blumenthal et al, 1998; DeFeudis, 1998).
The German Commission E approved the use of Ginkgo biloba for dementia, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, and otological disorders of vascular origin (Blumenthal et al, 1998).
The efficacy of Ginkgo biloba as an anti-dementia drug has been recognized by the WHO (WHO, 1999), and subsequently incorporated as such into the ATC Classification Index.
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| Warning |
Ginkgo biloba is generally very well tolerated. Adverse effects are generally mild and transitory, principally gastrointestinal disturbance, headache and skin reactions. For the majority of randomized controlled clinical trials using Ginkgo biloba, the reported incidence of adverse effects was generally comparable to placebo (Blumenthal et al, 1998; Le Bars & Kastelan, 2000; McKenna et al, 2001; Ernst, 2002; Schulz, 2003).
One of the active components of Ginkgo biloba, ginkgolide B, is known to inhibit platelet activating factor, resulting in the potential for increased bleeding, particularly for individuals prescribed conventional anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin. There have been a number of reported instances of individual cases where such instances of bleeding have been ascribed to Ginkgo biloba, for example after surgery (Fessenden et al, 2001; Fong & Kinnear, 2003; Bebington et al, 2005), or in spontaneous brain haemorrhage (Benjamin et al, 2001). However in none of these cases has a definitive link for Ginkgo biloba as the causative agent of such bleeding been established. In addition, randomized clinical trial studies in healthy subjects reported by Bal Dit Solier et al (2003), Kohler et al (2004) and Jiang et al (2005), as well as experimental studies by Halil et al (2005) and Koch (2005), have demonstrated no increased risk of bleeding caused by administration of Ginkgo biloba, indicating that reported bleeding events in patients taking this supplement are not related to the pharmacological properties of EGb 761.
As a general precaution, Ginkgo biloba is usually contraindicated for individuals prescribed conventional anticoagulants such as warfarin or aspirin. However a randomized controlled clinical trial reported by Englesen et al (2003) found no evidence that Ginkgo biloba influenced the clinical effect of warfarin. Although Ginkgo biloba has been suspected to alter the activity of microsomal enzymes involved in drug metabolism, a recent report by Mohutsky et al (2006) found no evidence in human subjects for in vivo interaction with CYP2C9, the cytochrome P450 enzyme responsible for the metabolism of warfarin.
Ginkgo biloba is reported to be non-mutagenic, not to promote the mutagenicity of other substances, is non-carcinogenic, and has no toxic effect on reproductive function (DeFeudis, 1998). The standardized extract EGb 761 should contain less than 5ppm of ginkgolic acid, which can cause allergic reactions and may be cytotoxic (Blumenthal et al, 1998).
There has been one literature report of interaction between Ginkgo biloba and thiazide diuretics, and one reported instance of interaction with the antidepressant trazodone (IIzzo & Ernst, 2001).
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| Directions |
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The generally recommended intake for Ginkgo biloba (standardized extract) is 40-80 mg 2-3 times daily. A period of up to 3 months may be required before benefits in cognitive function are obtained.
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| © CopyRight |
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2006 Pharma Nord Ltd
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| More |
Pharma Nord is a European pharmaceutical company which specializes in preventive medicine and nutrition... The company's raison d'être is the production and sale of scientifically well-founded dietary supplements, natural remedies and medicinal drugs. The company places much emphasis upon research involving its own products conducted by interested, independent researchers and upon an on-going examination of the relevant scientific literature.
From the beginning it has been Pharma Nord's goal to offer a series of dietary supplements, natural remedies and medicinal drugs characterized by a superior degree of quality, bio-availability and efficacy. Not all dietary supplements are equally good. There are, for example, significant differences in the bio-availability of various versions of the same vitamin or trace element depending upon how they have been produced.
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£29.98
