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Ginkgo Biloba May Prevent Atherosclerosis In Diabetes Patients | |
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Ginkgo biloba extract could bring down the risk of
heart disease in diabetes patients, suggests studies.
Ginkgo biloba L. is one of the oldest known herbal remedies and has a number of medicinal properties. It is used for chronic cough and loss of bladder control. An extract prepared from Ginkgo biloba leaves called EGb761 contains flavinoids and terpenes. This extract has been used to treat circulation problems and to increase memory. The flavinoid portion has antioxidant properties whereas the terpene portion reduces platelet activation and aggregation, thus improving circulation. A component of the terpene portion has been shown to reduce swelling and damage to the brain in stroke patients. Thus, EGb761 has protective effects on the brain as well as blood vessels. In addition, EGb761 also helps to reduce blood glucose in diabetic patients.
Recently, researchers conducted a study to see the effect of this extract on atherosclerosis in diabetes. Atherosclerosis causes buildup of plaques in the inner lining of blood vessels. It can lead to thickening of the arteries and decreases blood supply to various organs supplied by the arteries.
The study was conducted on rats with obese type 2 diabetes. The rats were divided into three groups of 12 rats each. One group served as a control whereas the other two were administered 100mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of EGb761 per day for 6 weeks' duration. At the three-week mark, the carotid arteries of the rats were damaged using standard techniques. Damage to a portion of an artery favors the deposition of cholesterol and formation of a plaque. The plaque then continues to grow and occludes the artery.
The researchers found that rats treated with EGb761 showed a decrease in plaque formation following the injury. This was more significant in rats on a higher dose of EGb761 i.e. 200 mg/kg/day. Cell proliferation was lower and apoptosis of the muscles of the blood vessels was higher in the EGb761 groups. Inflammation was also lower in the EGb761 groups. Other parameters were also tested, the results of which reinforced the antiatherogenic properties of EGb761.
The study thus indicates that EGb761 may play an important role in reducing atherosclerosis and risks for heart diseases in diabetics. Further studies in humans are required to establish their use for this purpose.
Reference:
EGb761, a Ginkgo Biloba Extract, Is Effective Against Atherosclerosis in Vitro, and in a Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes. Soo Lim et al; PloS one 2011
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0020301#s1
Source-Medindia
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More News on: Diabetic Retinopathy, Cholesterol, Diabetes, Diabetic Diet, Diabetes - Essentials, Diabetes - Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG), Insulin Delivery Devices, Diabetes and Exercise, Heart Attack, Stress Relief Through Alternative Medicine
 Comment & Contribute
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06/16/2011
Thanks for the article - good info!
I'm seeing fairly good results with the herbal combination of Bilberry and Gingko. From what I understand both herbs are nerve tissue antioxidants, though working by different mechanisms. Anyway they seem to be working - reducing my neuropathy symptoms by about 50% - not too bad. I really like what Charles Kane, in Herbal Medicine-Trends and Traditions, recommends...it's one of the better herbal books on my shelf. It has a fairly complete section on preparations, great index, and biblio listings showing the research that went into it.
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