What is it about?

This review examines how Ginkgo biloba, one of the world’s oldest medicinal plants, supports healthy aging. Its leaves are rich in flavonoids and terpenoids that act as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and neuroprotectors. Clinical trials show that standardized Ginkgo extracts can improve memory, attention, mood, and overall cognition, especially in people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Ginkgo also helps regulate blood flow, stabilize atherosclerotic plaques, reduce insulin resistance, and improve metabolic and cardiovascular health. Beyond brain and heart benefits, it may reduce markers of oxidative stress and protect mitochondria, the cell’s energy producers, from age-related dysfunction.

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Why is it important?

As life expectancy increases, age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disorders, and diabetes place heavy burdens on individuals and healthcare systems. Drugs are costly and often have side effects, so safe, natural alternatives are in demand. Ginkgo offers multi-targeted protection, combining cognitive, metabolic, and vascular benefits. Its long history of safe use and growing scientific validation position it as a valuable tool in preventing or managing conditions of aging.

Perspectives

What inspires me in this review is how an ancient tree, revered for centuries, continues to provide modern solutions for today’s biggest health challenges. Ginkgo shows that natural compounds can have broad, synergistic effects, working on memory, blood flow, and metabolism all at once. To me, this research reflects the elegance of plant-based medicine: complex mixtures acting on complex diseases, offering a path toward healthier, more resilient aging.

Dr. Rosa Direito
Universidade de Lisboa

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Ginkgo biloba in the Aging Process: A Narrative Review, Antioxidants, March 2022, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/antiox11030525.
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