Studies in Ginkgo Biloba Treating Alzheimers Disease

Ginkgo biloba treating alzheimers disease - Scientific Studies

There is no evidence that it will prevent alzheimer's disease, but it may help in treating the symptoms of alzheimer's. In Germany, ginkgo biloba is used to treat alzheimers, at dosages of 240mg per day. But given that ginkgo biloba may cause side effects and interactions with blood thinning drugs, it is wise to consult your doctor if you are undergoing ginkgo treatment for alzheimers disease.

There are three commonly reported studies that assessed ginkgo biloba treating alzheimer's disease. One, a 1997 study, measured the rate of "cognitive decline" in people with alzheimers disease and vascular dementia. The study found slight improvements in the group taking ginkgo biloba in the areas of knowing, thinking, and learning, and in social behaviour and mood changes as observed by their caregivers. But there was no improvement in a doctor's assessment of change test.

Another study on people with pre-senile and senile dementia from alzheimer's disease "showed similar outcomes over a 24 week treatment period but used 240mg ginkgo extract daily compared against placebo." (Source: blackmoresnz.co.nz)

Another study had no control group, and compared ginkgo biloba with the drug tacrine. Measurements were taken with an EEG, and "found that more patients taking ginkgo showed an improvement in the "cognitive activator" EEG profile than in the drug group." (Source: blackmoresnz.co.nz)

The herbal extracts used in these studies are standardised extracts that contain 24% flavonoids (flavone glycosides) and 6% terpenes (ginkgolides and bilobalides).

Ginkgo biloba treating alzheimers disease - Active Constituents

In ginkgo biloba, there are several active constituents and modes of action:

• flavonoids - coumaric acid, kaempferol, quercitin, isorhamnetin
  ---> these inhibit cyclo-oxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase, which in turn reduces prostaglandin and leukotrine activity. So, less free radicals and associated damage.

• Bilobalide (a sesquiterpene), in conjunction with some unknown principles, counters cerebral odema

• ginkgolides (diterpenes) - ginkgo counters the build up of fluid in the body, which helps prevent odema. It does this through the ginkgolides, especially ginkgolide B. The ginkgolides oppose the action of PAF, platelet activating factor. PAF increases the permeability of the capillaries, which are the smallest blood vessels that connect arteries with veins and allow for the exchange of gases with the tissues. Ginkgolides also seem to "improve the metabolic processes in tissues so that oxygen and glucose are readily available and damage to tissues is prevented". (Fisher & Painter, Materia Medica Of Western Herbs for the Southern Hemisphere). This is especially important for the brain.

  PAF is an inflammatory autocoid. "PAF is involved in various inflammatory, cardiovascular, and respiratory disorders. The ginkgolides have an anti-PAF action, helping to modulate various enzyme systems and ion pumps. The PAF antagonist effect of ginkgolides helps to explain ginkgo's broad-spectrum biological activity." (Source: http://www.stevenfoster.com/education/monograph/ginkgo.html)

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