Ginkgo biloba may prevent brain damage from stroke
Added 23.10.2008
A new study suggests that daily supplementation with ginkgo biloba may help to protect against brain cell damage following a stroke.
What is ginkgo biloba?
The ginkgo biloba tree is one of the oldest trees in the world and is native to Eastern China. Its leaves have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years to treat stress, impotence, memory loss, asthma, circulatory disorders and cardiovascular disease.Ginkgo biloba has potent antioxidant properties
The study found that ginkgo biloba enhances HO-1 production. HO-1 is an enzyme that doubles as an antioxidant and has a protective effect against inflammation. The study found that animals receiving daily supplements of ginkgo biloba extract had 50.9 percent less neurological dysfunction and 48.2 percent less brain damage than animals not receiving ginkgo biloba supplements.This is good news for people at high risk of stroke and daily supplementation with ginkgo biloba could be used as a preventive measure against brain damage.
References:
Saleem, S. & all. "Ginkgo biloba extract neuroprotective action is dependent on heme oxygenase 1 in ischemic reperfusion brain injury." Johns Hopkins Medicine Website. Published online before print. October 9, 2008.
