Study on Synergistic Antioxidant Effect of Typical Functional Components of Hydroethanolic Leaf Extract from Ginkgo Biloba In Vitro

The predicted anti-oxidation is related to apoptosis, proliferation, lipid metabolism, cell differentiation, and immune response. There are some differences in the antioxidant capacity of the four typical components of ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) including ginkgo flavone (GF), ginkgolide (G), procyanidins (OPC), and organic acids (OA), and any two members of them can exhibit apparent synergistic effects. The order of DPPH scavenging ability was: OPC > GF > OA > G. The scavenging ability of procyanidins was close to that of VC; the scavenging capacity of ABTS was GF > OPC > OA > G. The GF:OPC (1:9) showed the best synergism in scavenging DPPH and ABTS radicals. The 193 kinds of small molecules reported in EGb were obtained by analyzing the properties of EGb. In order to construct a corresponding biological activity target set, molecular docking and the network pharmacology method were employed to build the molecular action mechanism network of a compound target, and the main biological functions and signaling pathways involved with their antioxidant activities were predicted. The results displayed that the top ten compounds which belonged to the two broad categories, ginkgo flavonoids and proanthocyanidins, could interact closely with several important target proteins (CASP3, SOD2, MAPK1, HSPA4, and NQO1). This would be expected to lay a theoretical foundation for the deep development of Ginkgo biloba extract.

Zn-doped CoFe2O4Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Ginkgo Biloba Extract: Cation Distribution, Mossbauer Studies and Application for Water Treatment

The cobalt-zinc ferrites Zn1-xCoxFe2O4 (where x=0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.6; 0.8; 1.0) were obtained by green synthesis using Ginkgo Biloba extract as reductant and fuel. The cation distribution of the spinel ferrites has been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The surface morphology and elemental composition were analyzed by SEM and EDS. The crystallite size decrease with increasing Co2+ content calculated from Scherrer equation and Williamson-Hall method. Adsorption properties of the spinel system were investigated using Congo Red (CR) dye as model pollutant. It is concluded that the adsorption of Congo red dye molecules can occur due to electrostatic and donor-acceptor interactions with the adsorbent surface containing various amount of active centers.

Optimization of Formulation and Operating Parameters for Ginkgo biloba Extract Nanosuspension by Wet Ball Milling Using a Box–Behnken Design

In the present work, the formulation of nanosuspension of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) and the operating parameters of wet ball milling (WBM) was optimized using the Box–Behnken design (BBD) method. The key formulation factors evaluated were GBE concentration, milling speed, milling time, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration. A quadratic model with the correlation coefficient ( R 2 ) value of 0.9276 was established based on the experimental data, implying that this model is significant; meanwhile, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the SDS concentration was the most significant factor on particle size, followed by GBE concentration, milling speed, and milling time was the slighter significant factor. The GBE nanosuspension with the particles size of 171.2 nm was prepared under the optimized conditions of GBE concentration (7.459 g/L) in combination with milling time (1.492 h), milling speed (9.253 m/s), and SDS concentration (0.846 g/L). The freeze-dried nanosuspension exhibited spherical particle morphology with uniform size by scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the melting behavior of the raw material and milled GBE was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry and it was found that the melting point decreased due to the decrease of particle size. Furthermore, the dissolution rates of the optimized GBE showed better dissolution properties than the unprocessed GBE. The results show that it is feasible to prepare GBE nanosuspension on a commercial scale by WBM to increase the bioavailability of GBE.

A Single Dose of Ginkgo biloba Extract Induces Gene Expression of Hypothalamic Anorexigenic Effectors in Male Rats

Previous studies have shown that Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) reduces food intake and body mass gain and regulates proteins related to lipid metabolism in obese rats. In ovariectomized rats, GbE restored the hippocampal and hypothalamic serotonergic system activity, favoring the spontaneous feeding decrement. Considering the promising hypophagic effect of GbE, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a single acute dose on hypothalamic pathways that regulate feeding behavior in male rats. Four-month-old Wistar male rats received either a single acute oral GbE dose (500 mg/kg) or vehicle. Food intake and body mass were measured after 1, 4, 12, and 24 h. Rats were euthanized, and hypothalami were removed for mRNA quantification of anorexigenic (POMC/CART) and orexigenic (AgRP/NPY) neuropeptides, leptin/serotonin receptors (5HT1A, 5HT1B, 5HT2C), and serotonin transporters. We also investigated POMC, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT2C protein levels. A single acute GbE dose induced the hypothalamic POMC, CART, and 5-HT2C gene expression but failed to modify orexigenic effectors. No alterations in food intake, body mass, and hypothalamic protein levels were observed. In summary, the present findings demonstrate the rapid stimulation of pivotal hypothalamic anorexigenic pathways in response to a single GbE administration, reinforcing the GbE hypophagic activity. However, more studies are necessary to evaluate its potential as an appetite modulator.

Balance Training With Vibrotactile Neurofeedback and Ginkgo Biloba Extract in Age-Related Vertigo

Background: Balance training with vibrotactile neurofeedback (VNF) can improve balance and subjective impairment in age-related vertigo and dizziness. Ginkgo biloba dry extract EGb 761 has been shown to improve subjective impairment in chronic vertigo and the efficacy of conventional balance training. The combination was expected to work synergistically in this difficult-to-treat population.Objectives: To demonstrate the efficacy of VNF added to EGb 761 for age-related vertigo and dizziness.Design: Multicenter, prospective, controlled, randomized, single-blind, two-arm trial (German Clinical Trials Register https://www.drks.de No. DRKS00007633).Setting: Specialist offices and tertiary care outpatient department.Participants: One hundred and twenty subjects aged 60+ years with chronic dizziness for over 3 months, a Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) Sum Score >25 and fall risk in balance-related situations as measured by the geriatric Standard Balance Deficit Test Composite Score (gSBDT-CS)>40. Patients with other distinct vestibular pathology (e.g., Meniére's disease, stroke, BPPV) were excluded.Intervention: EGb 761 (80 mg twice daily for 12 weeks) plus 10 days of individually adapted balance training with VNF, randomized 1:1 to sensitive (active) or non-sensitive (sham) neurofeedback.Measurements: The change in gSBDT-CS after 6 weeks (primary), other gSBDT outcomes, DHI, cognition, hearing, and safety.Results: One hundred nine of 120 enrolled subjects received both treatments at least once. Over 12 weeks, the gSBDT-CS improved by 6.7 (active) vs. 4.5 (sham). There was a difference in favor of the active treatment of −2.4 (95% CI −5.4; 0.6) after 6 weeks. Under active treatment, more pronounced effects occurred in all secondary analyses and in nearly all secondary endpoints. The DHI sum score decreased from 44.1 to 31.1 in the total sample with a treatment group difference after 6 weeks of −3.1, 95% CI (−7.1; 0.9). No safety issues were reported.Conclusion: Over 12 weeks, the combination of balance training with VNF and Ginkgo biloba dry extract EGb 761 reached a clinically relevant improvement of age-related vertigo and dizziness with a good pharmacological safety profile.

Development and Evaluation of the Wound Healing Effect of a Novel Topical Cream Formula Based on Ginkgo biloba Extract on Wounds in Diabetic Rats

Despite advances in diabetes care, impaired diabetic wound healing remains a significant clinical problem. The present study was aimed at developing a novel cream based on Ginkgo biloba extract and investigating its wound healing effect on full-thickness wounds in diabetic rats. The topical formulated oil-in-water emulsion-based cream contains Ginkgo biloba aqueous extract in an amount of about 1% to 5% as an active agent. The prepared formula was subjected to physicochemical assessment and pharmacotechnical characterization. Eighteen alloxan-induced diabetic rats completing full-thickness excisional skin wounds were randomly divided into three groups topically treated with either a normal saline (control group), the reference drug (“Cytol Centella cream®”), and cream based on the Ginkgo biloba extract. The response to treatment was assessed by macroscopic, qualitative, and quantitative histopathological analysis. The prepared formula showed good physicochemical properties. The rheological behavior of the prepared cream followed a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic pattern at different storage temperatures. The cream, which is a macroemulsion with uniform size distribution, remained stable for 6 months. Skin tolerance studies confirmed the compatibility of the cream with the skin. During the experimental trial, the cream based on the Ginkgo biloba-treated group showed significant improvements over the control and reference groups for both general wound appearance and healing dynamics. This increased rate of closure of wounds in diabetic rats was associated with increased collagen synthesis. Our findings showed that the cream could be a promising and innovative topical treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract for the management of acute diabetic wounds.