Ginkgo biloba is a fascinating species of gymnosperm tree that is the last living species in the Ginkgoales order, a classification that first appeared over 290 million years ago. With fossils resembling the living species reaching back to the Middle Jurassic epoch, this unique tree is internationally recognized. Commonly referred to as ginkgo or gingko, it's also known by the beautiful epithet, the maidenhair tree. Native to East Asia, it has been cultivated by humans for countless generations and remains a common choice for planting due to its resilience and the beauty of its foliage.

While ginkgo's history as a living fossil is captivating, it's the potential health benefits of its leaf extract that have really cemented this tree in the minds of many around the world. I want to state upfront that the scientific consensus is still out on a number of these potential benefits. While there's no scientific proof that ginkgo supports human health or is effective against any disease in general, there are several studies and traditional applications worth discussing.

One common use of gingko biloba extract (GBE) is as a potential treatment for tinnitus, a condition characterized by persistent ringing in the ears. While an open study has shown some positive effects, a following double-blind placebo-controlled study offered contradictory results, with statistical group analysis not supporting the hypothesis of GBE having an effect on tinnitus. However, it's important to note that because there's no objective way to measure tinnitus symptoms, it's possible GBE has an effect on individual patients due to the diverse etiology of the symptom.

GBE is also often used as a dietary supplement by those seeking to alleviate or delay age-related cognitive impairment. A systematic review of controlled trials testing whether Ginkgo biloba enhances cognitive function in healthy subjects was, unfortunately, inconclusive. This review covered nine trials, the longest of which had a treatment period of 30 days. While the trials indicated no marked or consistent positive effects on cognitive function, a positive subjective effect was only reported in the longest trial.

Beyond these specific uses, it's also crucial to mention that herbal remedies like GBE have been widely used for centuries. Over the past 20 years, an estimated 2 billion daily doses (120 mg) of Ginkgo biloba have been sold, and it's considered effective for the treatment of several diseases in French and German agencies. It's also worth noting that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports research on Ginkgo biloba due to the importance of understanding potential herb-herb, drug-herb, and food-herb interactions in the rapidly expanding field of herbal medicine.

Lastly, it's crucial to highlight potential adverse reactions to Ginkgo biloba. Allergy sufferers beware; contact with the ginkgo tree can cause allergic reactions resulting in erythematous papules, vesicles, and edema on exposed areas due to ginkgolic acids. However, the active ingredients in ginkgo extract, manufactured from tree leaves, have long been seen as beneficial in traditional Chinese medicine and are extensively consumed in herbal medicine today.

The realm of Ginkgo biloba, in its many forms and under various names, is a fascinating field that catches the synergy of history, botanical science, traditional medicine, and modern scientific studies. With continued research, we may yet discover the full potential of this remarkable tree.

jose (2024/03/28)