Gautherie M Bourjat P Grosshans E Quenneville Y

[Vasodilator effect of Gingko biloba extract determined by skin thermometry and thermography]

In: THERAPIE (Sep-Oct 72) 27(5):881-92

Gessner B Voelp A Klasser M

Study of the long-term action of a Ginkgo biloba extract on vigilance and mental performance as determined by means of quantitative pharmaco-EEG and psychometric measurements.

In: Arzneimittelforschung (1985) 35(9):1459-65

Gonda R Takeda K Shimizu N Tomoda M

Characterization of a neutral polysaccharide having activity on the reticuloendothelial system from the rhizome of Curcuma longa.

In: Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) (1992 Jan) 40(1):185-8

A neutral polysaccharide, named ukonan D, was isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. It produced a single band on electrophoresis and a single peak on gel chromatography, and its molecular mass was estimated to be 28, 000. It showed remarkable reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clearance test. Ukonan D is composed of L-arabinose: D-galactose: D- glucose: D-mannose in the molar ratio of 1:1:12:0.2, in addition to small amounts of peptide moiety. Methylation analysis, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance and enzymic degradation studies indicated that its structural features include mainly both alpha-1, 5-linked L- arabino-beta-3, 6-branched D-galactan type and alpha-4, 6-branched D- glucan type structural units. The influence of degradation with alpha- amylase followed by the elimination of glucan side chains on its immunological activity was discussed.

Gonda R Tomoda M Ohara N Takada K

Arabinogalactan core structure and immunological activities of ukonan C, an acidic polysaccharide from the rhizome of Curcuma longa.

In: Biol Pharm Bull (1993 Mar) 16(3):235-8

Controlled Smith degradation of ukonan C, a phagocytosis-activating polysaccharide isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L., was performed. The reticuloendothelial system-potentiating, anti- complementary and alkaline phosphatase-inducing activities of ukonan C and its degradation products were investigated. Methylation analyses of the primary and secondary Smith degradation products and of a de-arabinosylated product indicated that structural features of the arabinogalactan core of ukonan C include a backbone chain composed of beta-1, 3-linked D-galactose and beta-1, 4-linked D-xylose. All of the galactose units in the backbone carry side chains composed of beta-1, 6-linked D-galactosyl residues with or without terminal alpha-L-arabinose units at position 3. Ukonan C showed remarkable effects on both reticuloendothelial system-potentiating and alkaline phosphatase-inducing activities. Periodate oxidation caused a decrease in or disappearance of the immunological activities, but the controlled Smith degradation product having the arabinogalactan core structure of polysaccharide showed a pronounced effect on anti- complementary activity.

Gonda R Tomoda M Takada K Ohara N Shimizu N

The core structure of ukonan A, a phagocytosis-activating polysaccharide from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, and immunological activities of degradation products.

In: Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) (1992 Apr) 40(4):990-3

The controlled Smith degradation of ukonan A, a phagocytosis- activating polysaccharide isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L., was performed. The reticuloendothelial system-potentiating, anti- complementary and alkaline phosphatase-inducing activities of ukonan A and its degradation products were investigated. Methylation analyses of both the primary and the secondary Smith degradation products indicated that the core structural features of ukonan A include a backbone chain mainly composed of beta-1, 3-linked D- galactose, beta-1, 4-linked D-xylose and alpha-1, 2-linked L-rhamnose residues. All of the galactose units in the backbone carry side chains composed of alpha-L-arabino-beta-D-galactosyl or beta-D- galactosyl residues at position 6. Ukonan A has a remarkable effect on each of the three kinds of immunological activities. Periodate oxidation caused pronounced decrease or disappearance of the activities, but the controlled Smith degradation product having the core structure of polysaccharide showed considerable restoration of these activities.

Grassel E

[Effect of Ginkgo-biloba extract on mental performance. Double-blind study using computerized measurement conditions in patients with cerebral insufficiency]

In: Fortschr Med (1992 Feb 20) 110(5):73-6 (Published in German)

Problem: The effect of ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 on basic parameters of mental performance. Patients: Seventy-two outpatients with cerebral insufficiency at three test centers. Study design: Double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study of 24 weeks duration. Test parameters: Psychometric computer-aided examination of the short-term memory and basic learning rate. Results: Statistically significant improvement in the shortterm memory after 6 weeks and of the learning rate after 24 weeks in the test substance group, but not in the placebo group (longitudinal analysis). The difference between the test substance and placebo groups (horizontal analysis) reached statistical significance in the 24th week. Conclusions: Treatment with ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 improves mental/mnestic performance.

Hitzenberger G

[The effect of ginkgo biloba special extract (EGb 761, Tebofortan)]

In: Wien Med Wochenschr (1992) 142(17):371-9 (Published in German)

Ginkgo biloba special extract exerts positive effects on hemorheology and platelet aggregation, is a free radical scavenger and possesses PAD antagonistic properties, protects against hypoxia and ischemia, hampers an experimentally induced cerebral edema, has favourable properties on neurotransmitters and enhances cerebral bloodflow. Clinically EGb has proven favourable effects on intellectual deficiency, equilibrium disturbances and peripheral artery occlusions thus being a drug with a clear cut indication for these diseases.

Hofferberth, B.:

The influence of Ginkgo Biloba Extract (GBE) on the Neuro physiological and Psychometrical Test results in patients suffering from organic cerebral Psychosyndrome: A Double-Blind Study Versus Placebo.

In: Conference at The Third Congress of the International Psychogeriatric Association, Chicago, August 1987

Hoffmann F Beck C Schutz A Offermann P

[Ginkgo extract EGb 761 (tenobin)/HAES versus naftidrofuryl

(Dusodril)/HAES. A randomized study of therapy of sudden deafness]

In: Laryngorhinootologie (1994 Mar) 73(3):149-52 (Published in German)

80 patients with idiopathic sudden hearing loss existing no longer than 10 days were included in a randomised reference-controlled study. The therapeutic value of Ginkgo EGb 761 (Tebonin) + HAES was compared to that of Naftidrofuryl (Dusodril)+HAES. The main mechanisms of action of EGb 761 are a vasoregulating activity (increased blood flow), the platelet activating factor antagonism and a prevention of membrane damage caused by free radicals. Naftidrofuryl has antiserotonergic and therefore vasodilatory properties. The statistical analysis of the audiometric data was performed in measuring the relative hearing gain as described by Eibach 1979. After one week of observation, 40% of the patients in each group showed a complete remission of hearing loss. This was also observed by other authors who had compared other drugs. Therefore, in these cases, it is most likely that spontaneous recovery is the most important factor. After two and three weeks of observation, measuring the relative hearing gain, there was a significant borderline benefit of EGb 761 (p = 0.06) without any side effects. Some patients of the reference group developed side effects such as orthostatic dysregulation or headache or sleep disturbances. Minimising side effects should be one of the most important goals in therapy of sudden hearing loss until the efficiency of infusion therapy is proved.

Holgers KM Axelsson A Pringle I

Ginkgo biloba extract for the treatment of tinnitus.

In: Audiology (1994 Mar-Apr) 33(2):85-92

Previous studies have shown contradictory results of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) treatment of tinnitus. The present study was divided into two parts: first an open part, without placebo control (n = 80), followed by a double-blind placebo-controlled study (n = 20). The patients included in the open study were patients who had been referred to the Department of Audiology, Sahlgren's Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden, due to persistent severe tinnitus. Patients reporting a positive effect on tinnitus in the open study were included in the double-blind placebo-controlled study (20 out of 21 patients participated). 7 patients preferred GBE to placebo, 7 placebo to GBE and 6 patients had no preference. Statistical group analysis gives no support to the hypothesis that GBE has any effect on tinnitus, although it is possible that GBE has an effect on some patients due to several reasons, e.g. the diverse etiology of tinnitus. Since there is no objective method to measure the symptom, the search for an effective drug can only be made on an individual basis.

Huguet F Tarrade T

Alpha 2-adrenoceptor changes during cerebral ageing. The effect of Ginkgo biloba extract.

In: J Pharm Pharmacol (1992 Jan) 44(1):24-7

[3H]Rauwolscine binding to alpha 2-adrenoceptors in cerebral cortex and hippocampus membranes of young (4 months) and aged (24 months) Wistar rats has been investigated. In aged rats, Bmax values of [3H]rauwolscine binding were significantly reduced (25-32%) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as compared with the number of alpha 2-adrenoceptors found in young rats. Chronic treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract did not alter [3H]rauwolscine binding in the hippocampus of young rats, but significantly increased (28%) the [3H]rauwolscine binding density in aged rats. These data confirm the previously described age-related noradrenergic alteration and suggest that noradrenergic activity in aged rats is more susceptible to Ginkgo biloba extract treatment.

Kenzelmann R Kade F

Limitation of the deterioration of lipid parameters by a standardized garlic-ginkgo combination product. A multicenter placebo-controlled double-blind study.

In: Arzneimittelforschung (1993 Sep) 43(9):978-81

The efficacy of a garlic-ginkgo combination product (Allium plus) was analyzed in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study under extreme dietary conditions. The Christmas/New Year's season was chosen for this 2 months lasting investigation analyzing whether the known cholesterol lowering effect of garlic was even effective during the period of the year with the most cholesterol-rich meals. 43 patients with elevated total cholesterol levels ranging between 230- 390 mg/dl completed the study. There were no significant changes of the total cholesterol values in both treatment groups. Nevertheless the analysis of improvement or deterioration of total cholesterol values revealed a clear difference between verum and placebo. 20% of the patients in the placebo group showed an improvement of their total cholesterol level, while there was a significant greater improvement rate of 35% in the verum group (p < 0.05). The responders of the verum group showed a reduction in the total cholesterol values from 298.5 +/- 53.8 to 293.0 +/- 56.4 mg/dl after 1 month and a total reduction of 10.4% after 2 months to 267.6 +/- 44.4 mg/dl. The difference after 2 months of treatment was significantly different from the starting value (p < 0.05). After the 2 months treatment phase there was a 2 weeks wash-out period. During this period the total cholesterol value returned to 293.5 +/- 90.1 mg/dl showing the effectiveness of garlic treatment, but indicating the need for a continuous long-term therapy.