Gingko Biloba 24 August 2009
Ginkgo biloba is a leaf extract which is standardised for its active constituents – flavone glycosides and terpene lactones. The terpene lactones are potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation and therefore improve blood circulation. Flavone glycosides are potent antioxidants and relax blood vessels which also improves circulation.
Currently research suggests that ginkgo biloba at a dose of 120mg/day is effective in:
- helping prevent gradual cognitive decline such as loss of concentration and memory with ageing in people over the age of 50.
- possibly preventing the onset of retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.
- intermittent claudication — increasing the pain-free walking distance.
- improving recovery post stroke
- erectile dysfunction in men , particularly those on antidepressants.
- people with Alzheimer’s disease who cannot tolerate cholinesterase inhibitors
- decreasing the risk of ovarian cancer. Recent research compared 600 patients with ovarian cancer and 640 healthy controls. They found that women taking ginkgo for at least 6 months had a 60% lower risk of ovarian cancer