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SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE:
COMMON USES IN COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE:
HISTORICAL USES:
- As an ANTIOXIDANT, ginkgo supplemented to patients having cardiovascular surgery
reduced free radicals, but did not significantly improve clinical recovery. Animal and in vitro
studies demonstrated a protective effect against ischemia-induced lipid peroxidation.
- Ginkgo prevented cerebral arteriosclerotic lesions in an animal model of
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS. A ginkgo extract proved effective in reducing early and late phases
of airway hyperactivity (ASTHMA) in a human study.
- Ginkgo has some demonstrated properties that hint of benefits in CARDIOVASCULAR
DISEASE, but well-controlled human trials are lacking.
- Ginkgo improved both efficacy and tolerability of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) when used in the
treatment of COLORECTAL CANCER refractory to conventional first line 5-FU therapy, in
an small open-label, prospective phase-2 study.
- Improved memory, attention and response behavior (with subjective improvement in
symptoms of CEREBRAL INSUFFICIENCY) has been reported with ginkgo use in a few
randomly controlled trials.
- Ginkgo was ineffective in the prevention of a relapse in cocaine-dependent subjects.
- Both positive and negative studies exist relating to ginkgo's effect on MEMORY and
COGNITION. Most positive studies demonstrated modest improvement in memory and
mental function.
- Ginkgo demonstrated improvement in symptoms associated with mild to moderate
DEMENTIA (including Alzheimer's disease) in long term trials.
- Ginkgo was similar to pentoxifylline when used to treat DEAFNESS of sudden onset, yet
Ginkgo demonstrated no effect on major or seasonal DEPRESSION in two small trials.
- In a small, open label trial, ginkgo demonstrated some promise in men with ERECTILE
DYSFUNCTION unresponsive to papaverine. These findings were supported by in vitro
data.
- While animal and in vitro data demonstrated promise for ginkgo use in the treatment of
HYPERLIPIDEMIA, a small human trial of a combination product containing ginkgo and
garlic demonstrated no improvement in mean cholesterol levels following two months of
treatment.
- When given prior to rapid ascents, ginkgo reduced severity of acute MOUNTAIN SICKNESS
; prior to gradual ascents, ginkgo prevented the acute onset of mountain sickness.
- Ginkgo extract was not effective in the treatment of acute exacerbations of MULTIPLE
SCLEROSIS in a multi-center trial.
- Ginkgo improved long distance visual acuity caused by macular degeneration, and
improved color vision in patients with diabetic RETINOPATHY.
- Many studies demonstrated ginkgo's ability to improve pain-free walking and maximum
walking distance for patients with PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL INSUFFICIENCY.
- Ginkgo was efficacious in the treatment of PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME, in a large multi-
center trial.
- In an open study of Chernobyl workers, clastogenic factors were reduced in workers
exposed to RADIATION and supplemented with ginkgo. An animal study replicates these
results.
- A small pilot study of patients with RAYNAUD'S DISEASE demonstrated reductions in
frequency but no change in duration or severity of Raynaud's disease attacks.
- In patients with SCHIZOPHRENIA, ginkgo reduced extrapyramidal side effects and
improved the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs. - While some studies and case reports have demonstrated ginkgo's effectiveness in the
treatment of ANTIDEPRESSANT-INDUCED SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION, good clinical trials
have demonstrated no effect.
- Ginkgo may possess anti-STRESS effects, as demonstrated in animals.
- While study results vary, larger ginkgo doses may have potential for use in the treatment of
TINNITUS.
- Ginkgo was not effective in the treatment of ULCERATIVE COLITIS in a small trial.
- A ginkgo extract was effective in relieving the intensity, frequency, and duration of
VERTIGO episodes. Animal studies have also demonstrated a positive effect.
COMMON USES IN COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE:
- The primary clinical indications for ginkgo are cerebral vascular insufficiency, dementia
(including Alzheimer's disease) and memory impairment, cardiovascular disease,
depression, impotence, inner ear dysfunction (eg, vertigo, tinnitus), peripheral vascular
insufficiency (including intermittent claudication and Raynaud's disease), premenstrual
syndrome, retinopathy (macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy), and stress.
HISTORICAL USES:
- Ginkgo biloba is the world's oldest living tree species. The sole surviving species of the
family Ginkgoaceae, the ginkgo tree can be traced back more than 200 million years to the
fossils of the Permian period. For this reason, the ginkgo tree is often referred to as "the
living fossil." Once common in North America and Europe, the ginkgo tree was almost
destroyed during the Ice Age in all regions of the world except China, where it has long
been cultivated as a sacred tree. Its medicinal use can be traced back to the oldest
Chinese materia medica (2800 BC). Ginkgo leaves have been used in traditional Chinese
medicine for their ability to "benefit the brain," relieve the symptoms of asthma and coughs,
and help the body to eliminate parasites.
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