Phytochemicals in Ginkgo biloba for Age-Related Eye Disease - A Review

Ginkgo biloba is a rich source of phytochemicals and antioxidants derived from plant extracts, and its therapeutic potential is increasingly recognized in ocular health. Eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are among the leading causes of vision impairment worldwide, with current therapies often failing to counteract oxidative stress and retinal neurodegeneration. Ginkgo biloba, a medicinal plant used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), contains diverse flavonoids and terpenoids with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. However, the specific contributions of these phytochemicals to ocular protection and the optimization of delivery strategies for standardized plant extracts remain insufficiently explored.

This review examines evidence on standardized Ginkgo biloba extracts (GBEs) for ocular health, highlighting their ability to reduce oxidative damage, regulate inflammation, and protect retinal cells in major eye diseases. We hypothesize that standardized GBEs, when formulated via advanced ocular drug delivery systems, could enhance retinal bioavailability and efficacy, serving as viable adjunct or alternative therapies for glaucoma, DR, and AMD. The objectives are to summarize current knowledge on the phytochemical composition of Ginkgo biloba and its mechanisms of ocular protection, critically evaluate preclinical and clinical evidence of its use in eye diseases, and explore novel formulation and delivery strategies to overcome the bioavailability challenges of these plant extracts.