2015, Pages 1021–1029
Chapter 95 – Ginkgo biloba and Usage in Dementia: From Eastern Tradition to Western Science
Different parts of the ancient tree, Ginkgo biloba,
have been used for various purposes: seeds in traditional nutrition and
as traditional Chinese medicine, leaf extracts as herbal medicinal
products. Recently, dietary supplements based on ginkgo leaves have been
introduced, but there is no evidence of a nutritional benefit from
taking such supplements in cognitive decline and there have been no
studies in dementia. Only one herbal medicinal product, based on the
well-defined, quantified ginkgo leaf extract EGb 761, has been
investigated in randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials in
patients with dementia. Overall, these trials, together with systematic
reviews and meta-analyses, demonstrate statistically significant and
clinically meaningful effects on cognitive performance, neuropsychiatric
symptoms, caregiver distress related to neuropsychiatric symptoms,
activities of daily living, clinical global assessment, and quality of
life. Efficacy and safety of EGb 761 have been shown in patients with
Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and dementia with mixed
pathology; the beneficial effects were more pronounced in patients with
neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Keywords
- Ginkgo biloba;
- ginkgo leaf extract;
- efficacy;
- safety;
- review;
- herbal medicinal product;
- drug;
- pharmaceutical quality;
- dementia
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
