contains tannins (30—40%).
A related species, G. elatum Wall., is
found in the Himalayas from Kashmir
to Sikkim It is used for dysentery and
diarrhoea.
Ginkgo biloba Linn.
Family Ginkgoaceae.
Habitat Native to China and Japan; cultivated in Indian gardens as an ornamental.
English Maidenhair tree called Living Fossils (in India), Kew tree.
Action Antagonizes bronchospasm, used as a circulatory stimulant,
peripheral vasodilator.
Key application Standardized dry extract—for symptomatic treatment of disturbed performance in organic brain syndrome within the regimen of a therapeutic concept in cases of dementia syndromes— memory deficits, disturbance in concentration, depressive emotional conditions, dizziness, tinnitus and headache. (German Commission E, ESCOP WHO.) As vasoactive and platelet aggregation inhibitor.
(The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)
(For pharmocological studies in
humans and clinical studies, see
ESCOP.)
The majority of pharmacological studies and clinical trials have been conduced using a standardized extract which contains 24% flavonoid glycosides (Ginko flavone glycosides) and 6% terpenoids (ginkgolides and bilobalide).
The extract increases tolerance to hypoxia and exhibits anti-ischaemic effect. It simultaneously improves the fluidity of blood, decreases platelet adhesion, decreases platelet and erythrocyte aggregation and reduces plasma and blood viscosity. The extract protects erythrocytes from haemolysis. The extract also decreases the permeability of capillaries and protects the cell membrane by trapping deleterious free radicals.
The extract also increased cerebral blood flow in about 70% patients evaluated (patients between 30—50 year age had 20% increase from the base line, compared with 70% in those 50- to 70- year olds).
A reversal of sexual dysfunction with concurrent use of ginkgo with antidepressant drugs has been reported. (Am 1 Psychiatry, 2000 157(5), 836— 837.)
The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, USA, is conducting a 5-year study
