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Ginkgo biloba extract: More than just for memory?
February 24, 2006Washington, DC - Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center say they now have a clearer picture of how an extract from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree reduces the risk of aggressive cancer in animal experiments.
In the January-February issue of the journal Anticancer Research, the investigators reported that treating mice with an extract of leaves of Ginkgo biloba both before and after implanting human breast or brain (glioma) tumors decreased expression of a cell receptor associated with invasive cancer. This decreased expression slowed the growth of the breast tumors by 80 percent as long as the extract was used, compared to untreated mice, and also reduced the size of the brain tumors, but temporarily, and to a lesser extent.
Ginkgo biloba extract is a popular supplement that comes from the leaves of the Gingko tree, which is indigenous to Japan, Korea and China but can be found all over the world. Many believe it enhances memory, and is being currently being tested as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
"It is very encouraging that Ginkgo biloba appeared to reduce the aggressiveness of these cancers, because it suggests that the leaves could be useful in some early stage diseases to prevent them from becoming invasive, or spreading," said the study's senior author, Vassilios Papadopoulos, DPharm, PhD, Director, Biomedical Graduate Research Organization and Associate Vice President of Georgetown University Medical Center.
"But I must stress that this is a study in mice, and so we cannot say what anticancer effects, if any, Gingko biloba might offer humans," he said.
Papadopoulos and his research team became interested in Gingko biloba because their research suggested that it might interact with the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), a molecule they have been studying for the last 20 years. For example, they have determined that this protein (discovered by accident when researchers looked at how the anti-anxiety drug diazepam, better known as Valium®, worked) is involved in bringing cholesterol into a cell's mitochondria.
In some cells the mitochondria uses cholesterol to produce steroids, which are regulatory hormones that, among other functions, help a cell grow, Papadopoulos said. "In fact, we have found that most life forms, including plants, insects, and animals, have receptors like these that help regulate growth."
So they looked at whether cancer cells - with their need to proliferate - produce more of these cholesterol-bearing receptors, and found that some highly invasive cancers do, indeed, over-express PBR. "Accelerated growth requires production of new cell membranes, and one of the main components of membranes is cholesterol," Papadopoulos said.
The researchers also knew that steroids help regulate brain function, and they found over-expression of PBR is also associated with a variety of neurological disorders. Because the leaf of Ginkgo biloba is an ancient Chinese treatment for dementia that is still widely used - and which is now being tested in the U.S. to treat Alzheimer's disease patients - Papadopoulos decided to look at the effect of Ginkgo biloba on PBR production.
He selected breast cancer cells that over-expressed PBR, implanted them in mice, and treated the mice with a standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves. After 30 days, tumor size was reduced by 35 percent, compared to untreated mice. That research was published in 2000.
One aim of this new study, then, was to find whether other cancer cell lines also over-express PBR. They found that, in addition to one form of aggressive breast cancer (invasive estrogen-receptor negative), certain brain, colon, and prostate cancers also show higher than normal levels of PBR.
The other part of the research was to see if Ginkgo biloba would show any anticancer effects on these cancer cell lines, and concluded that the extract did nothing to cancers that were not invasive, but significantly slowed the growth of aggressive cancer cells.
Papadopoulos and his team then studied whether a non-commercial injectable form of a standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves might have any preventive effects, and selected the aggressive breast cancer and brain glioma to study in mice. The researchers pretreated the animals with this pharmaceutical preparation of Ginkgo biloba, then implanted the tumors. The Ginkgo biloba extract inhibited growth of the breast tumors by more than 80 percent, but glioma tumors did not respond as strongly, and the benefit was maintained for only 50 days despite continuous treatment. Tumors implanted in mice that did not over-express PBR did not respond to the extract.
Papadopoulos now plans to examine the notion that a cancer diagnosis might increase production of stress steroids such as corticosteroids through PBR over-expression, and it is this stress that, in effect, pushes a tumor to become invasive. "Ginkgo biloba could possibly reduce this stress by tamping down PBR," he said.
Georgetown University Medical Center
"It is very encouraging that Ginkgo biloba appeared to reduce the aggressiveness of these cancers, because it suggests that the leaves could be useful in some early stage diseases to prevent them from becoming invasive, or spreading," said the study's senior author, Vassilios Papadopoulos, DPharm, PhD, Director, Biomedical Graduate Research Organization and Associate Vice President of Georgetown University Medical Center.
"But I must stress that this is a study in mice, and so we cannot say what anticancer effects, if any, Gingko biloba might offer humans," he said.
Papadopoulos and his research team became interested in Gingko biloba because their research suggested that it might interact with the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), a molecule they have been studying for the last 20 years. For example, they have determined that this protein (discovered by accident when researchers looked at how the anti-anxiety drug diazepam, better known as Valium®, worked) is involved in bringing cholesterol into a cell's mitochondria.
In some cells the mitochondria uses cholesterol to produce steroids, which are regulatory hormones that, among other functions, help a cell grow, Papadopoulos said. "In fact, we have found that most life forms, including plants, insects, and animals, have receptors like these that help regulate growth."
So they looked at whether cancer cells - with their need to proliferate - produce more of these cholesterol-bearing receptors, and found that some highly invasive cancers do, indeed, over-express PBR. "Accelerated growth requires production of new cell membranes, and one of the main components of membranes is cholesterol," Papadopoulos said.
The researchers also knew that steroids help regulate brain function, and they found over-expression of PBR is also associated with a variety of neurological disorders. Because the leaf of Ginkgo biloba is an ancient Chinese treatment for dementia that is still widely used - and which is now being tested in the U.S. to treat Alzheimer's disease patients - Papadopoulos decided to look at the effect of Ginkgo biloba on PBR production.
He selected breast cancer cells that over-expressed PBR, implanted them in mice, and treated the mice with a standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves. After 30 days, tumor size was reduced by 35 percent, compared to untreated mice. That research was published in 2000.
One aim of this new study, then, was to find whether other cancer cell lines also over-express PBR. They found that, in addition to one form of aggressive breast cancer (invasive estrogen-receptor negative), certain brain, colon, and prostate cancers also show higher than normal levels of PBR.
The other part of the research was to see if Ginkgo biloba would show any anticancer effects on these cancer cell lines, and concluded that the extract did nothing to cancers that were not invasive, but significantly slowed the growth of aggressive cancer cells.
Papadopoulos and his team then studied whether a non-commercial injectable form of a standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves might have any preventive effects, and selected the aggressive breast cancer and brain glioma to study in mice. The researchers pretreated the animals with this pharmaceutical preparation of Ginkgo biloba, then implanted the tumors. The Ginkgo biloba extract inhibited growth of the breast tumors by more than 80 percent, but glioma tumors did not respond as strongly, and the benefit was maintained for only 50 days despite continuous treatment. Tumors implanted in mice that did not over-express PBR did not respond to the extract.
Papadopoulos now plans to examine the notion that a cancer diagnosis might increase production of stress steroids such as corticosteroids through PBR over-expression, and it is this stress that, in effect, pushes a tumor to become invasive. "Ginkgo biloba could possibly reduce this stress by tamping down PBR," he said.
Georgetown University Medical Center
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Popular herbal remedy fails effectiveness test for tinnitus
Researchers at the University of Birmingham identified 1,121 healthy people with tinnitus. 559 received 12 weeks treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract and 562 received a placebo. Tinnitus was assessed using several questionnaires - before treatment began, after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment, and 2 weeks after treatment ended. They found that Ginkgo biloba extract was no more effective than placebo in treating tinnitus alone. Ginkgo bilobaextract has in the past been shown to have therapeutic effects on symptoms of cerebral insufficiency including memory disturbances and cognitive deficits such as tinnitus, but previous studies on tinnitus alone (without accompanying other symptoms of cerebral i
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Nature's Bounty Ginkgo Biloba, 60 mg, Standardized Extract, 120 Tablets (Pack of 2) by Nature's Bounty Herbal Supplement. Promotes Healthy Brain Function. Scientific research documents the ability of Ginkgo to maintain peripheral circulation to the arms, legs and brain. In addition, Ginkgo helps improve memory, especially occasional mild memory problems as |
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Nature's Bounty Ginkgo Biloba, Standardized Extract, 240 Tablets (Pack of 2) by Nature's Bounty Herbal Supplement. Promotes Healthy Brain Function. Scientific research documents the ability of Ginkgo to maintain peripheral circulation to the arms, legs and brain. In addition, Ginkgo helps improve memory, especially occasional mild memory problems associated with aging. Ginkgo also possesses antioxidant properties that may help neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. Studies have shown that oxidative stress caused by free radicals may contribute to aging. To enhance the bioactivity of the standardized Ginkgo, we've added 400 mg of Ginkgo Leaf per serving. Value Size. (These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.) |
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Nature Made Ginkgo Biloba Extra-Count Bottles Capsules, 60 mg, 60-Count Bottles (Pack of 3) by Nature Made Nature's Resource Ginko Biloba (Ginkgo biloba). Studies indicate Ginkgo may increase peripheral circulation, thereby enhancing blood flow to the arms, legs and brain. Ginkgo helps maintain healthy memory function and mental alertness. |
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Ginkgo Biloba Extract 60 mg 120 Caps by Swanson Premium Brand Give your brain an herbal boost with Ginkgo biloba! Extracts of Ginkgo biloba leaves have been used in China for almost 5,000 years as a natural way to support memory and mental sharpness. Our Ginkgo extract is standardized to contain 24 percent flavone glycosides and six percent terpene lactones for guaranteed potency in each capsule. Limit 3 Bottles |
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Source Naturals Ginkgo-24, 120 mg, Tablets, 120 tablets by Source Naturals Dietary supplement. Ginkgo Biloba Extract. 24% Flavone Glycosides; 6% Terpene Lactones. Ginkgo-24 is a standardized concentration of prime quality Ginkgo biloba leaves. The extraction yields 24% ginkgo flavone glycosides (the key nutrients) from a 50 to 1 concentration. The Ginkgo biloba tree has survived for over 200 million years, virtually unchanged - the Earth's oldest living species of tree. Ginkgo biloba is the subject of extensive scientific research, and is used worldwide as a nutritional supplement. (These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.) |
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Spring Valley - Ginkgo Biloba 120 mg, 90 Capsules by Nature's Bounty, Inc. Scientific research documents the ability of Ginkgo to maintain peripheral circulation to the arms, legs and brain. In addition, Ginkgo helps improve memory, especially occasional mild memory problems associated with aging. Ginkgo also possesses antioxidant properties that may help neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. Studies have shown that oxidative stress caused by free radicals may contribute to aging. |
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Super Ginkgo Plus Ginko 100 Tablets (125mg Leaf Extract plus 310mg Leaf), ONLY $1.25 Shipping per Bottle, Buy 4 Bottles SHIPPING IS FREE! Dollar for dollar you get 3 X the Ginkgo as Swanson Ginkgo Biloba Extract 60mg 240 Caps! by ValuePricedMeds HOW GINGKO WORKS: The ginkgo flavonoids act specifically to dilate the smallest segment of the circulatory system, the micro-capillaries, which has a widespread affect on the organs, especially the brain. Researchers have also reported that Ginkgo extracts effectively increase blood circulation and increase oxygen levels in brain tissues. Ginkgo is also a powerful antioxidant that prevents platelet aggregation inside arterial walls, keeping them flexible and decreasing the formation of arteriosclerositic plaque. Recently western researchers have been studying ginkgo biloba as a treatment for senility, hardening of the arteries, and as a treatment for oxygen deprivation. More than 34 human and hundreds of animal and chemical studies on Ginkgo Biloba have been published since 1975, showing,... |
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TruNature Ginkgo Biloba with Vinpocetine, 60mg (250 Softgels) by TruNature Supports alertness & short term memory. Ginkgo Biloba can help mental clarity and memory retention. Research has shown that Ginkgo Biloba works as an antioxidant and contains flavone glycosides and terpenes that can help MAintain healthy blood flow to the |
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Now Foods Ginkgo Biloba, 100 Capsules / 120mg by NOW NOW® Ginkgo Biloba is grown and extracted under the highest quality standards and is standardized to min. 24% Ginkgoflavonglycosides and min. 6% Terpene Lactones, including Ginkgolide B, the most significant fraction, and Ginkgolides A, C and Bilobalide. |
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