Ginkgo biloba L. is considered one of the oldest trees in the world and has been used for thousands of years for its variety of pharmacological effects. It is commonly known as ginkgo. Leaf extracts of this fossil tree have been standardized and patented under the name EGb761. EGb761 mainly consists of terpene trilactones which are unique to this species and flavone glycosides. It is supported by scientific research that these chemical components are responsible for the pharmacological effects of the tree. G. biloba L. has gained interest as a therapeutic plant for its favorable effects in cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disorders like dementia. Its beneficial impacts on a wide range of pathological conditions, including cardiovascular health, asthma, psychiatric disorders, skin problems, and glaucoma as well as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and hepatoprotective activities, have been reported through experimental and clinical research. Ginkgo is generally well tolerated but when combined with warfarin or other antiplatelet medications, it can increase the risk of bleeding. This review mainly focuses on recent studies of pharmacological effects of G. biloba L. and indicates that G. biloba L. might be beneficial in the prevention and improvement of neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary, ocular, metabolic, mental disorders also have anticancer and antimicrobial properties however further studies and clinical trials are necessary to confirm the safety and efficacy of G. biloba L. in order to guide medical use.
Keywords: Ginkgo biloba; EGb761; ginkgolides; ginkgolic acid; pharmacological activity
Ginkgo biloba L., dünyanın en eski ağaçlarından biri olarak kabul edilir ve çeşitli farmakolojik etkileri nedeniyle binlerce yıldır kullanılmaktadır. Genellikle ginkgo olarak bilinmektedir. Bu fosil ağacın kendine has yapraklarının ekstreleri standardize edilmiş ve EGb761 adı ile patent almıştır. EGb761 esas olarak terpen trilaktonlar ve flavon glikozitlerinden oluşur, G. biloba ağacının farmakolojik etkilerinden bu kimyasal bileşenlerin sorumlu olduğu bilimsel araştırmalarla desteklenmektedir. G. biloba L., bilişsel bozulma ve bunama gibi nörodejeneratif bozukluklarda olumlu etkileri nedeniyle terapötik bir bitki olarak ilgi görmüştür. Kardiyovasküler sağlık, astım, psikiyatrik bozukluklar, cilt sorunları ve glokom dâhil olmak üzere çok çeşitli patolojik durumlar üzerindeki yararlı etkilerinin yanı sıra antioksidan, antiinflamatuar, antikanser ve hepatoprotektif aktiviteleri deneysel ve klinik araştırmalar yoluyla rapor edilmiştir. G. biloba L. genellikle iyi tolere edilir, ancak varfarin veya diğer antiplatelet ilaçlarla birlikte kullanıldığında kanama riskini artırabilir. Bu derleme, temel olarak G. biloba L. bitkisinin farmakolojik etkilerine ilişkin son çalışmalara odaklanmaktadır ve G. biloba L. bitkisinin nörolojik, kardiyovasküler, pulmoner, oküler, metabolik, zihinsel bozuklukların önlenmesinde ve iyileştirilmesinde faydalı olabileceğini, ayrıca antikanser ve antimikrobiyal özelliklere sahip olduğunu, ancak G. biloba L. bitkisinin güvenliğini ve etkinliğini doğrulamak ve tıbbi kullanıma geçebilmek için daha fazla araştırma ve daha ileri klinik çalışmaların gerekli olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Ginkgo biloba; EGb761; ginkgolidler; ginkgolik asit; farmakolojik etkiler
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