GINKGO

Occurrence

Ginkgo is a tree native to China and Japan. It is now also found in the United States and Europe.

The Uses of GINKGO

Gingko is used to decrease disturbances of cerebral functioning and peripheral vascular insuffi ciency in persons with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of agerelated dementia. It is also used as an antioxidant, to improve peripheral artery disease, and to enhance circulation throughout the body. Other reported uses include the treatment of depressive mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, asthma,glaucoma, menopausal symptoms, multiple sclerosis, headaches, tinnitus, dizziness,arthritis, altitude sickness, and intermittent claudication.

Pharmacology

Ginkgo, extract EGb 761 from the G. biloba tree (the ‘maidenhair’ tree), has been widely used in several European countries and in North America for the treatment of ‘chronic cerebral circulatory insufficiency’ (Kleijnen and Knipschild, 1992; Gertz and Kiefer, 2004). Ginkgo biloba extracts have vasodilating and antioxidant properties, as well as haemorheological and nootropic effects, and decrease platelet aggregability and blood viscosity, but the mechanism of action remains poorly understood (Zimmermann et al., 2002; Gertz and Kiefer, 2004).