Ginkgo biloba
Part Used: Dried leaf (autumn harvested)
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) grows most prominently in the southern and eastern United States and in China. The dioecious Ginkgo tree can reach a height of 40m in its natural habitat in Central China. It prefers rich sandy soil, and has one or several main trunks and spreading branches. Ginkgo leaf extracts are among the better-selling herbal medicines in Europe. Most research has focused on the use of the complex extracts to increase circulation to the extremities as well as the brain, especially in the elderly. Ginkgo extract has also been studied for the treatment of ringing in the ears (tinnitus), male impotence, degenerative nerve conditions such as multiple sclerosis, and other diseases. It has shown potential to relieve difficulties with short-term memory, attention span, and mood in early stages of Alzheimer's disease by improving oxygen metabolism in the brain. Ginkgo has been used to relieve tension and anxiety and improve mental alertness, elevate mood and restore energy.
Ginkgo's effects have been attributed to compounds called flavone glycosides, as well as unique compounds - ginkgolides-which are potent inhibitors of a platelet-activating factor involved in the development of inflammatory, cardiovascular, and respiratory disorders. The ginkgolides' activity helps explain the herb's broad-spectrum biological effects. Another important effect is strong antioxidant activity. With its ability to "scavenge" reactive oxygen forms known as free radicals, Ginkgo leaf extract directs antioxidant effects to the brain, central nervous system, and cardiovascular system. This is one of the mechanisms that make it promising in treatment of age-related declines of brain function. The ginkgolides present in the leaf help alleviate the adverse effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in a number of tissues and organs because they competitively inhibit the binding of PAF to its membrane receptor. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Ginkgo preparations are effective in the treatment of arterial insufficiency, particularly in the lower limbs and brain. Ginkgo has been shown to improve eyesight in senile macular degeneration and to neutralise the effects of oxygen free radicals produced in the eyes.
References:
All Natural. http://www.allnatural.net/herbpages/ginko.shtml
Purple Sage Botanicals. http://www.purplesage.org.uk/profiles/ginkgo.htm
