Ginkgo biloba: An updated review on pharmacological, ethnobotanical, and phytochemical studies
Maryam Akaberi, Hamed Baharara, Mohammad Sadegh Amiri, Ali Tafazoli Moghadam, Amirhossein Sahebkar, Seyed Ahmad Emami
Abstract
Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoaceae), known as a "living fossil," has a long history of medicinal use. Both its leaves and nuts have been widely prescribed for the treatment of various ailments, including pulmonary diseases, alcohol abuse, bladder inflammation, heart and lung dysfunction, and skin infections. Currently, there are different forms of G. biloba available in the market, including extracts and isolated compounds such as terpenoids, flavonoids, bioflavonoids, and organic acids. Despite the significant medicinal importance of this plant, there is a lack of updated reviews encompassing its pharmacology and other relevant aspects. Therefore, the objective of this review is to collect and analyze existing literature on the phytochemical, ethnobotanical, and pharmacological aspects of G. biloba. Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for keywords “Ginkgo biloba” or “ginkgo” in combination with “phytochemistry”, “ethnobotany”, “pharmacology”, “nervous system”, and “cardiovascular”, etc. to collect the relevant articles. There was no language restriction. Retrieved studies showed that the extracts and isolated compounds from G. biloba have beneficial activities in cerebrovascular, nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, muscular and skeletal, renal, respiratory, digestive, and immunity systems. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted to investigate the therapeutic potential of G. biloba in the treatment and improvement of various diseases. Additionally, there is a substantial body of clinical research on G. biloba preparations and isolated compounds. However, further investigations, particularly human-controlled trials, are recommended to determine the efficacy and safety of G. biloba. These trials would provide more robust evidence regarding the potential benefits and risks associated with the use of G. biloba in clinical settings.