Misc Abstacts (Ginkgo Biloba)
U Grassel-E.
IN Abteilung fur Medizinische Psychologie und Psychopathometrie,
Universitat
Erlangen-Nurnberg.
TI [Effect of *Ginkgo-biloba* extract on mental performance. Double-blind
study using computerized measurement conditions in patients with
cerebral insufficiency].
AB Problem: The effect of *ginkgo* biloba extract EGb 761 on basic
parameters of mental
performance. Patients: Seventy-two outpatients with cerebral
insufficiency at three test
centers. Study design: Double-blind, randomized *placebo-controlled*
study of 24 weeks
duration. Test parameters: Psychometric computer-aided examination
of the short-term
memory and basic learning rate.
Results: Statistically significant improvement in the short-term memory
after
6 weeks and of the learning rate after 24 weeks in the test substance
group, but not in the
*placebo* group (longitudinal analysis). The difference between the
test substance and
*placebo* groups (horizontal analysis) reached statistical significance
in the 24th week.
Conclusions: Treatment with *ginkgo* biloba extract EGb 761 improves
mental/mnestic performance. Author-abstract.
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AU Rai-G-S. Shovlin-C. Wesnes-K-A.
IN Department of Geriatric Medicine, Whittington Hospital, London,
England.
TI A double-blind, *placebo* controlled study of *Ginkgo* biloba extract
('tanakan') in elderly outpatients with mild to moderate memory
impairment.
AB Thirty-one patients over the age of 50 years and showing a mild to
moderate degree of
memory impairment entered a 6-month double-blind, *placebo* controlled,
parallel group
design study to assess the effects of a standardized *Ginkgo* biloba
extract (containing 24%
flavonoid glycosides and 6% terpenes) on cognitive function. Patients
were
allocated at *random* to receive oral doses of 40 mg *Ginkgo* biloba
extract or identical *placebo* 3-times daily. Assessments were made at
baseline and after
12 and 24 weeks of treatment using a range of psychometric tests.
Efficacy data were
available for 27 patients (15 in the *placebo* group and 12 in the active
treatment group).
Statistical analysis of the data as compared to baseline suggests
that *Ginkgo* biloba
extract had a beneficial effect on cognitive function in this group of
patients. Performance on
the Digit Copying sub-test of the Kendrick battery was significantly
improved at both
12 and 24 weeks, while the median speed of response on a computerized
version of a
classification task also showed a significant superiority over
*placebo* at 24 weeks.
Author-abstract.
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Eckmann-F.
IN Landeskrankenhaus Schleswig.
TI [Cerebral insufficiency--treatment with *Ginkgo-biloba* extract. Time
of onset of effect in a double-blind study with 60 inpatients].
T LG German (GE).
AB Sixty inpatients with cerebral insufficiency and the leading symptom
depressive mood, were
treated in a double-blind study for 6 weeks with a daily dose of 160 mg
*Ginkgo* biloba
extract or *placebo.* After 2, 4 and 6 weeks, changes in 12 typical
symptoms in comparison
with the last examination, were evaluated. In the group receiving
*placebo,* small, but
progressive improvements were observed. In the *Ginkgo-biloba* group,
the overall number
of improvements was significantly larger. After 2 weeks the
differences were marked for
only a few of the symptoms; after 4 and 6 weeks in contrast, in 11 of
the 12 symptoms. The largest number of improvements in the
*Ginkgo-biloba* group was
bserved between the 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment. In this period,
about two-thirds of the
patients on *Ginkgo-biloba,* and about one-fifth of the patients on
*placebo* showed
improvements. Author-abstract.
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U Hofferberth-B.
IN Klinik fur Neurologie der Westfalischen Wilhelms-Universitat
Munster/Westf. TI [The effect of *Ginkgo* biloba extract on
neurophysiological and
psychometric measurement results in patients with psychotic organic
brain syndrome. A double-blind study against *placebo].*
AB The range of typical symptoms of cerebro-organic syndrome such as
dizziness, memory and concentration loss, and orientation disorders
can either be measured
objectively within a clinical trial or can be observed subjectively.
Thirty-six patients with
classical symptoms of organic syndrome were recruited into a
*placebo-controlled*
double-blind trial in which the therapeutic effect of *Ginkgo* biloba
extract EGb 761
(rokan) was measured by the following objective criteria: quantified EEG,
saccadic eye
movements and psychometric tests (Wiener Determination Test, Number
Connection Test).
Following 2 weeks' wash-out, 40 mg. EGb 761 was administered 3 times
daily (= 20 mg daily
dose) for 8 weeks. The control group received *placebo* capsules of
identical external
appearance. The tests listed above were carried out prior to treatment
and after 4 and 8
weeks' therapy with the exception of quantitative EEG which was
recorded at the
beginning and end of treatment only. Patients presenting with
pathological findings for at east
two of the four test criteria were admitted to the trial. Patients
receiving unpermitted
supplementary medication or suffering from acute cardiovascular
disturbances or
digestive and metabolic disorders were excluded from the trial. A
highly significant
difference could already been seen after 4 weeks of therapy and also
after 8 weeks in the
results of both the saccadic test and the psychometric tests compared
to the *placebo*
control group. Saccade duration was shortened and the latency reduced.
In
parallel, the number of correct answers given in the Wiener
Determination Test and Number
Connection Test increased significantly compared to the control group.
(ABSTRACT
TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS).
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AU Subhan-Z. Hindmarch-I.
IN Department of Psychology, University of Leeds, England.
TI The psychopharmacological effects of *Ginkgo* biloba extract in normal
healthy volunteers.
AB Eight healthy female volunteers received *Ginkgo* biloba extract
(G.B.E.) 120, 240, 600 mg and *placebo* according to a randomized,
double-blind
crossover design. One hour following treatment, subjects completed a
battery of psychological
tests including critical flicker fusion (CFF), choice reaction time
(CRT), subjective
ratings of drug effects (LARS) and a Sternberg memory scanning test.
No statistically
significant changes from *placebo* were observed on CFF, CRT or
subjective ratings of
drug effects. However, memory as assessed using the Sternberg
technique was found to be
significantly improved following treatment with G.B.E. 600 mg when
compared to
*placebo* and results suggested a localized effect of the drug on the
serial comparison
stage of the reaction process. Author-abstract.
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Remember, Uncle Walt says, “ We must habit ourselves to the dazzle of the
light “
W Whitman. Leaves of Grass
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