Ginkgo

links: Nootropics reference: 5-1-2021

Ginkgo Biloba #

• Enhances blood flow (to the testes, that is?)
  • https://men-elite.com/2020/01/08/how-to-interpret-your-testosterone-blood-test-results-in-order-to-focus-on-whats-most-important/
• Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) influences monoaminergic neurotransmission via inhibition of NE uptake, but not MAO activity after chronic treatment
  • Inhibits NET, SERT, DAT, and in high concentrations, MAO. After 14 days, only NET is significantly decreased.
• Terpene Trilactones from Ginkgo biloba Are Antagonists of Cortical Glycine and GABAA Receptors (2003)
  • Contains Bilobalide, a Glycine Receptor antagonist.
  • Role of glycine receptors and glycine release for the neuroprotective activity of bilobalide (2008)
• GABA-A NAM. Apparently it upregulates GABA-A after 1-2 weeks.
• Ginkgo biloba treatments reverse the impairment of conditioned suppression acquisition induced by GluN2B-NMDA and 5-HT1A receptor blockade: Modulatory effects of the circuitry of the dorsal hippocampal formation
  • Upregulated NR2B, GABA-A-α5, and GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein).
  • Upregulated GABA-A-α1 in dHF (dorsal hippocampal formation) and 5-HT1A in CA3.
• Very weak Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Inhibits NOS. Blocks Aldosterone.
• Strongly potentiates α1 Glycine receptors.
• PGC-1β activation.
• In rats it may inhibit MAO-B but apparently this has not been demonstrated in humans.
• Blood thinner via PAF (platelet-activating factor) inhibition.
• Contains Amentoflavone.
• A single amino acid determines the toxicity of Ginkgo biloba extracts
  • their lack of toxicity in humans is not in doubt. These extracts are, however, highly toxic to insects.
  • Insect GABA receptors contain Ala at their 2’ position in the pore. Substitution with Val, which is the equivalent residue in vertebrate GABA-A receptor α-subunits, decreases ginkgolide potency by up to 10,000-fold.
    • Upregulates GABA-A5 or some shit?
• Ginkgo biloba extract promotes osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in a pathway involving Wnt/β-catenin signaling
• Impaired tricarboxylic acid cycle flux and mitochondrial aerobic respiration during isoproterenol induced myocardial ischemia is rescued by bilobalide
  • Inhibits PDH, SDH, SUCLG, CS
• Stabilization of mitochondrial function by Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761)
• https://raypeatforum.com/community/threads/ginkgo-biloba-is-anti-serotonin-and-pro-dopamine.34051/post-520338
  • Ginkgo biloba normalises stress-elevated alterations in brain catecholamines, serotonin and plasma corticosterone levels
  • The Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® and its main constituent flavonoids and ginkgolides increase extracellular dopamine levels in the rat prefrontal cortex
• Polysomnographic effects of adjuvant ginkgo biloba therapy in patients with major depression medicated with trimipramine
• Good for bones:
  • Ginkgo Biloba improves bone formation during fracture healing: an experimental study in rats
  • Effects of the extract of Ginkgo biloba on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro
  • Ginkgo biloba extract promotes osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in a pathway involving Wnt/β-catenin signaling
  • Potential antiosteoporotic effect of ginkgo biloba extract via regulation of SIRT1-NF-kB signaling pathway
• Gingkgolic acid is a toxin. Extracts aim to achieve a minimum concentration of this. Life Extension may be the lowest according to Odder_Sea.
• Action Mechanism of Ginkgo biloba Leaf Extract Intervened by Exercise Therapy in Treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
  • I don’t get this experimental model, tbh. They applied T and E2 to these rats.
  • Ginkgo alone had no effect on T, 5α-reductase, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), but suppressed androgen receptor (AR), aromatase, E2 and estrogen receptor (ER), and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA); Ex alone significantly reduced T, aromatase, E2, ER, AR, and PCNA, but highly raised DHT. While Ginkgo + Ex androgenically downregulated T, aromatase, E2, and ER, but upregulated DHT, AR, and PCNA, implying Ginkgo + Ex tended to worsen BPH.
• Ginkgo biloba and cerebral bleeding: a case report and critical review
  • We report the case of a young woman who made chronic use of G. biloba and suffered from cerebral bleeding without any structural abnormalities.

The anecdotes: improves focus and (long-term) memory.

Dosing #

• 120-300mg? Idk
• https://libreddit.hu/r/Nootropics/comments/10sednv/comment/j72wjjz/?context=3 might be only worth taking in the form of Ginkgold
• Swanson’s (1 cap (60mg), or Lake Adenue on iHerb.
• Odder_Sea: Quality is absolutely key with Ginkgo. Don’t cheap out IMO. The medicinal constituents of Ginkgo are very sensitive to many factors, including the time of year it is harvested. EGB-761 is a patented extract, for which much of the more rigourous studies were performed with. It can be bought in the US as Natures way “Ginkgold”, which I’ve used,m to good effect, but don’t reccomend at present, as it contains titanium dioxide. I think this is endemic to all preparations of EGB-761. I’ve also used and generally reccomend the Jarrow, Life Extension, and Dr’s Best.
• Most brands like LE, Source Naturals, and Swanson (both veg) have 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones. LE has a 365 capsule supply minimum for whatever reason so it’s $37.50
  • This is what EGB 761 consists of. Along with 5-10% organic acids.