Antidepressant ginkgo

Gnkgo (maiden hair tree, kew tree) Ginkgo biloba Raynauds disease, cerebral insufficiency anxiety, stress, tinnitus, dementias, circulatory problems, asthma Rare if used as directed possible effects include headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, Gl effects, rash, allergic dermatitis Do not take with antidepressant drugs, such as the MAOIs, or the antiplatelet drugs such as coumarin, unless advised to do so by the primary care provider. 

Although primarily recognized for its nootropic effects, ginkgo has been studied somewhat for psychotherapeutic effects. Because ginkgo has been discussed at length in chapter 5, this section will focus primarily on the studies of its anxiolytic and/or antidepressant effects. 

Thus, ginkgo s actions on the HPA axis may afford it anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects, particularly when stress is a causal factor. Considering its neuroendocrine effects, investigation of ginkgo in depression may still be warranted, particularly where stress and anxiety play causal roles. Summaty and Conclusions... 

Ginkgo is most commonly known for its cognitive effects, but there is evidence to suggest it may have psychotherapeutic effects as well. As with its cognitive effects, the mechanisms responsible for its anxiolytic or antidepressant effects are uncertain, but likely involve monoamine and/or... 

Cohen AJ, Bartlik B. (1998). Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. J Sex Marital Ther. 124(2) 139-43. 

Flavonoids in the diet have been widely promoted as important antioxidant contributors. Their neuroprotective properties, because of this effect, have been demonstrated by several workers. However, they have also been demonstrated to have MAOI activity and this has been proposed as part of the explanation of the use of the common herb, St Johns Wort, Hypericum perforatum L., as an antidepressant. This dual role has now been proposed for a variety of flavonoids, such as kaempferol (22) from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L., a widely used herbal product which has been suggested as a preventative agent against neurodegeneration. Quercetin (23), similarly, has also shown to inhibit MAO-B " and reverse the effects of induced catalepsy, which mimics the bradykinesia associated with PD. Tangeretin (24) also inhibits MAO-B and crosses the blood brain barrier in a rat model. 

Schubert H, Halama P. Depressive episode primarily unresponsive to therapy in elderly patients efficacy of ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) in combination with antidepressants. Geriatr Forsch 1993 3 45-53. 

Ginkgo 1 2 151 million (36), 395.68 million (7) Age-related macular degeneration treatment, age-related memory impairment, altitude Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction, seasonal affective disorder, tinnitus... 

Kang BJ, Lee SJ, Kim MD, Cho MJ. A placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. Hum Psychopharmacol Clin Exp 2002 17 279-284. 

Wheatley D. Triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba in sexual dysfunction due to antidepressant drugs. Hum Psychopharmacol Clin Exp 2004 19 545-548. 

A. J. Cohen and B. Bartlik, Ginkgo Biloba for Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy 24, no. 2 (1998) 139-144. 

Ginkgo biloba54n positive response in depressed elderly patients with mild-to-moderate cognitive dysfunction and non-response history to therapeutic trials on tricyclic antidepressants additional research ongoing to clarify mechanism, efficacy in depression... 

S4n Schubert, H., el al Depressive Episode Primarily Unresponsive to Therapy in Elderly Patients E cacy of Ginkgo biloba extract (Egb 761) in Combination with Antidepressants, Geriatr. Forsch 3 43-53, 1993. 

Active substances that are considered to be most sensitive to interaction with herbal preparations include oral anticoagulants, cardiac glycosides, oral contraceptives, antidepressants and antihypertensives. Typical herbal products that may influence their activity are St John s wort, ginkgo, ginseng, garlic and laxatives (bulk formers and anthraquinones). Note that the composition of the particular herbal preparatirMi should always be considered as the profiles of different extracts from the same plant may vary considerably. 

Ginkgo leaf extracts, bilobalide and ginkgolide A, have shown antidepressant/antistress effects in different animal models, which appears to be mediated by antagonism of the GABA receptor and by elevating brain catecholamines and plasma corticosterone levels. " ... 

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