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 ETYMOLOGY
The name ginkgo, stems from an incorrect transcription of the plant’s Japanese name "GIN-KYO" derived in turn from the Chinese “YIN-KUO,” where both mean “silver apricot.” This name was given to the species from the famous botanist Linnaeus Carlo in 1771 in the first botanical publication about it, which is where the error was made with the original transcription of the name. Biloba or “bi-loba” as it could be thought of, refers to the fan-shaped leaves that are often divided into two lobes.
BOTANICAL INFORMATION
Family: Ginkgoaceae
Description: An elegant Gymnosperm, gingko is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 m in height. It is commonly agreed upon as being the oldest tree on the planet. There is a difference in the plant’s appearance depending on its gender: female individuals are more round in shape, while males are more slender and bear long branches. The trees are popularly cultivated for ornamental use. It was considered by Darwin as a kind of "living fossil", and is the only remaining species of a family and an order that dates back to the Permian period. It is considered that the species is extinct as a wild plant and has only been preserved thanks to the cultivation preformed by Chinese monks to decorate their places of worship. Fertilization is conducted in characteristic Gymnosperm fashion.
Habitat: Ginkgo is native to China where it grows naturally in fresh valleys up to 700 meters above sea level. Ginkgo is now also being cultivated on a large scale in China, France and South Carolina.
Cultivation: Currently, gingko is experimentally being planted in forest type, low-intensity sites of cultivation, but so far significant results have not been obtained. This is most likely due to the slow growth of the plant and to the damage it suffers from wildlife in marginal lands. Researchers have also tried intensifying cultivation, creating farming suitable for mechanized technique that is assessed in terms of production quantities.
Method of Harvest:
Leaves are harvested in June and July.
Parts Utilized:
Leaves.
ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS: Flavone glycosides and Terpenes (gingkolides).
MODE OF ACTION
Actions: Ginkgo has antioxidant, protective and regulatory activity, improves the endothelium of vessels and therefore, vascular blood flow, promotes peripheral blood circulation and blood flow to the brain, and exhibits anti-platelet activity.
Precautions: Very rarely, gastrointestinal discomfort and/or allergic skin reactions have been observed. It is recommended to consult your physician before taking gingko if you take anti-coagulant or other drugs that deter the aggregation of platelets.
COMMON INDICATIONS
As a medicinal herb: Ginkgo herbal preparations are used to improve cognitive performance and improve poor peripheral circulation.
Traditional uses:
In China, dried and processed gingko seeds are prescribed for asthma, cough with phlegm, enuresis, poorly developed vaginal mucosa, bronchitis and/or asthma, and frequent urination.
PREPARATION AND USE
Internal Use: Preparations containing 27-30 mg of gingkolides and 10 mg of terpenes per day (equivalent to about 4-8 grams of drugs the day).
HISTORY AND LEGENDS
Eastern art is rich symbolism of and references to ginkgo: in the blazons of the shogun as in ancient waka poems (Japanese poetry) are symbols and allegories of this plant. Even some Japanese hair styles have names like "big ginkgo," or "little ginkgo, as recall the shape of the leaves of the plant. It has been cultivated for centuries to adorn temples and places of worship where thousands still occupy. The seeds (nuts ginkgo) is a fruit much sought after and are roasted and eaten. The infusion of its leaves is called the "tea of eternal youth".
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Reference
“Biology and chemistry of Ginkgo biloba.” Fitoterapia. 2008 Sep;79(6):401-18. Epub 2008 Jun 27
“Ginkgo Biloba as a cognitive enhancer” Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2008 Jul-Aug;71(4):57-63
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