Different parts of the ancient tree

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
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