Gingko And The Gut
When researchers in Asia performed laboratory tests on how a natural chemical called ginkgolide B (one of the main bioactive compounds in ginkgo) might reverse some of the cognitive issues caused by Alzheimer’s disease, they found something surprising. They discovered that much of this compound’s therapeutic potential resides in decreasing harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract that are connected to neuron damage while stimulating the growth of more good bacteria that promote better brain health.1 The researchers conclude that in this way ginkgolide B revamps the bacterial population in the gut to better support cognitive abilities. They also stress that this property means ginkgolide B possesses important potential for its use to combat Alzheimer’s disease. At the same time, other tests have shown that ginkgo contains compounds that might alleviate depression in a similar way – by altering the balance of probiotic bacteria in the intestines.2 In one such investigation, researchers found that ginkgo could work against depression by reducing the number of problematic gut bacteria linked to mood problems and boosting the growth of other beneficial bacteria that are associated with promoting depression relief. The study also showed that these changes lead to higher levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine in several brain areas including the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and the olfactory bulb.Ramping Up Brain Power
A group of other studies also demonstrate ways that ginkgo can keep the brain running smoothly by:- Increasing blood flow to the brain: A study at Johns Hopkins demonstrates that ginkgo can help boost extra blood flow to neurons and could be helpful in treating vascular dementia, a form of memory loss linked to circulatory problems that often arise after having a stroke.3
- Improving the capacity of the brain’s mitochondria: Tests at Goethe-University in Germany show that ginkgo may support better memory and intellectual abilities in older people by improving the function of the brain’s mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles in neurons.4
- Protecting the integrity of the blood brain barrier after a brain injury: Research in Sweden indicates that ginkgolide B can help keep toxins out of brain tissue after a brain injury by limiting leaks in the brain barrier that can be caused by the release of damaging enzymes and oxidative stress.5
