Ginkgo Reduces Neuropathic Pain In Animal Studies

June 6, 2009

An extract of ginkgo biloba shows scientific evidence of effectiveness against

one common and hard-to-treat type of pain, according to animal data reported in

the June issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International

Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

Dr. Yee Suk Kim and colleagues of The Catholic University of Seoul, South Korea,

performed experiments in rats to evaluate the effectiveness of ginkgo against

neuropathic pain, a common pain problem associated with herpes zoster, limb

injury, or diabetes. Affected patients may feel severe pain in response to

harmless stimuli like heat, cold, or touch.

Objective Evidence of Pain Reduction with Ginkgo

In the experiments, rats with neuropathic pain were treated with different doses

of a standardized ginkgo biloba extract or with an inactive solution. Objective

tests were performed to see how ginkgo affected neuropathic pain responses to

cold and pressure.

For both cold and pressure stimuli, pain responses were significantly reduced in

ginkgo-treated rats. This was so on before-and-after treatment comparisons and

on comparison of ginkgo-treated versus placebo-treated animals. The higher the

dose of ginkgo extract, the greater the pain-relieving effect. Pain was reduced

for at least two hours after ginkgo treatment.

The study provides no evidence as to how ginkgo works to reduce pain. Several

mechanisms are possible, including antioxidant activity, an anti-inflammatory

effect, or protection against nerve injury perhaps in combination.

Many herbs and " alternative " drugs are commonly used without prescriptions for a

wide range of purposes, despite a lack of scientific evidence for health claims.

Ginkgo, one of the most popular herbal products, is widely used as a memory

enhancer, among other purposes.

The new study provides the first scientific evidence that ginkgo has a real

effect in reducing neuropathic pain. New treatments are needed for neuropathic

pain, which does not always respond well to available treatments.

" It's still too early to stock up on ginkgo biloba if you have chronic pain, "

comments Dr. L. Shafer of Columbia University, Editor-in-Chief of

Anesthesia & Analgesia. Many treatments that are effective in animals do not

prove to be effective in humans, or prove to have unacceptable toxic effects

when given to patients, Dr. Shafer reminds. " However, " he adds, " it is at least

reassuring to know that scientists are investigating the properties of this

ancient oriental herbal medication in an effort to determine what chemical

constituents account for the many beneficial effects traditionally ascribed to

it. "

Recommended Posts