Cardiovascular Activity of Ginkgo biloba-An Insight from Healthy Subjects

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Herbal Medicine
• Cardiovascular Physiology

Background:

• Ginkgo biloba, an ancient tree species, is widely used for cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment.
• Existing clinical data on its efficacy is limited, particularly in healthy subjects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the mechanisms behind Ginkgo biloba's beneficial cardiovascular activities.
• To explore its impact on myocardial function, vasodilation, and organ perfusion.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on Ginkgo biloba's cardiovascular effects.
• Analysis of ex vivo studies demonstrating myocardial suppressant and vasorelaxant activities.
• Examination of its influence on endothelial-dependent and -independent pathways.

Main Results:

• Ginkgo biloba exhibits myocardial suppressant and vasorelaxant properties.
• It enhances endothelial-dependent and -independent pathways, improving perfusion in various vascular beds (ocular, cochlear, cerebral, coronary).
• Effects on tissue perfusion can be heterogeneous, influenced by individual elimination pathways.

Conclusions:

• Ginkgo biloba positively influences cardiovascular physiology, improving hemodynamics and organ perfusion.
• The herb possesses an acceptable safety profile with rare adverse reactions.
• Further controlled clinical studies are needed to define optimal target populations for Ginkgo biloba interventions.