Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ttngx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-16T17:50:54.433Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Efficacy and safety of a Ginkgo biloba extract

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

PL Le Bars  and
J Kastelan
PL Le Bars*
Affiliation:
New York University Medical Center, New York, USA Memory Centers of America, 225 East 64th Street, Suite C-102, 10021 New York, USA
J Kastelan
Affiliation:
Memory Centers of America, 225 East 64th Street, Suite C-102, 10021 New York, USA HZI Research Center, Elmsford, NY, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Email pllb@aol
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This review of the literature documents the efficacy of a standard extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) in managing signs and symptoms associated with memory disorders and dementia. Analysis of the discrepant findings reveals that study outcomes may vary with the type of population studied, the outcome measurements selected, and the dosing tested. Overall, the efficacy of EGb was more frequently reported in trials enrolling dementia patients than healthy volunteers. In contrast to narrow memory tests, broad cognitive assessments were more likely to detect the treatment effect. Although a dose–response relationship is not yet established, 240 mg day−1 EGb seems to show a higher rate of treatment response than does 120 mg day−1. Regarding safety, in all trials reviewed the adverse event profile of EGb was not different from that of the placebo.

Keywords

Ginkgo bilobaEGb 761MemoryEEGAlzheimer's DiseaseDementiaRandomized Controlled Trial
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 3 , Supplement 4a , December 2000 , pp. 495 - 499
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2000

References

1Warot, D, Lacomblez, L, Danjou, P, Weiller, E, Payan, C, Puech, AJ. Comparative effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on psychomotor performance and memory in healthy volunteers. (In French.) Therapie 1991; 46: 33–6.Google Scholar
2Subhan, Z, Hindmarch, I.The psychopharmacological effects of Ginkgo biloba extract in normal healthy volunteers. Int. J. Clin. Pharm. Res. 1984; IV 2: 89–93.Google Scholar
3Allain, H, Raoul, P, Lieury, A, LeCoz, F, Gandon, JM, d'Arbigny, P.Effect of two doses of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on the dual-coding test in elderly subjects. Clin. Ther. 1993; 15: 549–58.Google Scholar
4Grassel, E.The influence of Ginkgo biloba extract on mental performance, a double-blind study under computerized measurement conditions in patients with cerebral insufficiency. (In German.) Fortschr. Med. 1992; 110: 73–6.Google Scholar
5Hofferberth, B.Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on neurophysiological and psychometric findings in patients with cerebro-organic syndrome. (In German.) Arzneim.-Forsch./Drug Res. 1989; 39 (II): 918–22.Google Scholar
6Israel, L, Dell'Accio, E, Martin, G, Hugonot, R.Ginkgo biloba extract and memory training programs. Comparative assessment on elderly out-patients. (In French.) Psychol. Med. 1987; 19: 1431–9.Google Scholar
7Wesnes, K, Simmons, D, Rook, M, Simpson, P.A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of tanakan in the treatment of idiopathic cognitive impairment in the elderly. Hum. Psychopharm. 1987; 2: 159–69.Google Scholar
8Itil, TM, Eralp, E, Tsambis, E, Itil, KZ, Stein, U.Central nervous system effects of Ginkgo biloba, a plant extract. Am. J. Ther. 1996; 3: 63–73.Google Scholar
9Kunkel, H.EEG profile of three different extractions of Ginkgo biloba. Neuropsychobiology 1993; 27: 40–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Le Bars, P, Itil, TM, Salzman, C, Saito, A, Bucci, P, Kimura, J, Shibasaki, H. QEEG for dose-finding of new psychotropics and antidementia drugs In: Kimura, J, Shibasaki, H, eds. Recent Advances in Clinical Neurophysiology. Proceedings of the 10th International Congress of EMG and Clinical Neurophysiology15–19 October 1995Kyoto, Japan. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1996: 780–3.Google Scholar
11Luthringer, R, d'Arbigny, P, Minot, R, Toussaint, M, Dago, KT, Macher, JP. EEG and EPs mapping profile of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) Clin. Neuropharm. 1992; 15 (Suppl. I): 152B.Google Scholar
12Hofferberth, B.The efficacy of EGb 761 in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on different levels of investigation. Hum. Psychopharmacol. 1994; 9: 215–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13Rai, GS, Shovlin, C, Wesnes, KA. A double-blind, placebo controlled study of Ginkgo biloba extract (‘Tanakan’) in elderly out-patients with mild to moderate memory impairment. Curr. Med. Res. Opinion 1991; 12: 350–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Gessner, B, Voelp, A, Klasser, M.Study of the long-term action of Ginkgo biloba extract on vigilance and mental performance as determined by means of quantitative pharmaco-EEG and psychometric measurements. Arzneim.-Forsch./Drug Res. 1985; 35: 1459–65.Google Scholar
15Pidoux, B, Bastien, C, Niddam, S.Clinical and quantitative EEG double-blind study of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 1983; 3 (Suppl. I): S556–7.Google Scholar
16Kleijnen, J, Knipschild, P.Ginkgo biloba for cerebral insufficiency. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 1992; 34: 352–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17Letzel, H, Haan, J, Feil, WB. Nootropics: Efficacy and tolerability of products from three active substance classes. J. Drug Dev. Clin. Pract. 1996 8: 77–94.Google Scholar
18Le Bars, PL, Katz, MM, Berman, N, Itil, TM, Freedman, AM, Schatzberg, AF. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba for dementia. JAMA 1997; 278 16: 1327–32.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Kanowski, S, Herrmann, WM, Stephan, K, Wierich, W, Horr, R.Proof of efficacy of the Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 in outpatients suffering from mild to moderate primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type or multi-infarct dementia. Pharmacopsychiatry 1996; 29: 47–56.Google Scholar
20Le Bars, PL, Kieser, M, Itil, KZ. A 26-week analysis of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 in dementia. Dement. Geriatr. Cogn. Disord. 2000; 11: 230–7.Google Scholar