Effects of Six-Week Ginkgo biloba Supplementation on Aerobic Performance, Blood Pro/Antioxidant Balance, and Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Physically Active Men

Abstract

Extracts of Ginkgo biloba leaves, a natural source of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds, are commonly used as therapeutic agents for the improvement of both cognitive and physiological performance. The present study was aimed to test the effects of a six-week supplementation with 160 mg/day of a standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba or a matching placebo on aerobic performance, blood antioxidant capacity, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in healthy, physically active young men, randomly allocated to two groups (n = 9 each). At baseline, as well as on the day following the treatment, the participants performed an incremental cycling test for the assessment of maximal oxygen uptake. Venous blood samples taken at rest, then immediately post-test and following 1 h of recovery, were analyzed for activities of antioxidant enzymes and plasma concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidants, total phenolics, uric acid, lipid peroxidation products, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Our results show that six weeks’ supplementation with Ginkgo biloba extract in physically active young men may provide some marginal improvements in their endurance performance expressed as VO2max and blood antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by specific biomarkers, and elicit somewhat better neuroprotection through increased exercise-induced production of BDNF.

Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Interventions on Cognition and Brain Health in Healthy Young and Middle-Aged Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Sixteen studies [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52] examining the effects of (poly)phenol-rich supplementation on cognitive functions and/or brain related parameters were considered to meet the specific inclusion criteria and were included in the current SR.…”

“…Six studies [37,[39][40][41]49,51] only examined the effect of rich-(poly)phenol supplementation on cognitive function. Three studies [42,43,52] only examined the change in serum BDNF [42,43] and stroke volume (SV) [52] following rich-(poly)phenol supplementation. Concerning the effect of acute and chronic (poly)phenol-rich supplementation on the above-mentioned functions, four studies investigated the chronic effect [41][42][43]45], while ten studies investigated the acute effect [37][38][39][40][46][47][48][50][51][52].…”

“…As a result, very little is known about the effect of polyphenol interventions on brain-related aging processes in healthy young humans. Additionally, the few available studies in this field demonstrate controversial findings; some of them indicate improved brain function following acute and/or chronic ingestion of polyphenol-rich supplementation [36][37][38][39][40], while other findings fail to prove beneficial effects on cognitive function and brain structures of young and middle-aged adults [41][42][43].…”

In vitro anti-aging activities of ginkgo biloba leaf extract and its chemical constituents

“…On literature, the extract of G. biloba has been reported to have their potent antioxidant properties. Flavonoids, such as quercetin and kaempferol, can directly quench free radicals (Sadowska-Krępa et al, 2017).…”

Bilobalide protects astrocytes from oxygen and glucose deprivation‐induced oxidative injury by upregulating manganese superoxide dismutase

“…Thus, new insight from astrocytes may provide new therapeutic targets for the treatment of Ischemic stroke. Bilobalide (BB) is a sesquiterpene trilactone constituent that accounts for~2.9% of the standardized Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761, which has been widely used to treat a variety of neurological disorders including cerebral ischemia and neurodegeneration (Attia et al, 2012;Deng, Wei, & Zhang, 2006;Oskouei et al, 2013;Sadowska-Krepa et al, 2017;Vellas et al, 2012;Yancheva et al, 2009). Substantial experiments indicate that BB is a neuroprotective agent with multiple mechanisms of action (Goldie & Dolan, 2013;Jiang et al, 2014;Lang et al, 2011;Mdzinarishvili, Kiewert, Kumar, Hillert, & Klein, 2007;Suzuki, Sato, Takezawa, Usuki, & Okada, 2011;Zhou et al, 2016).…”