Proanthocyanidins from Ginkgo extract EGb 761® improve bioenergetics and stimulate neurite outgrowth in vitro
EGb 761® is a proprietary extract from Ginkgo biloba leaves approved as an herbal medication for the treatment of dementia and its related disorders. Preclinical studies highlight antioxidant, ROS scavenging, mitochondria-stabilizing, and neuroplastic properties as some of the reported pharmacologic...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1495997/full |
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| Summary: | EGb 761® is a proprietary extract from Ginkgo biloba leaves approved as an herbal medication for the treatment of dementia and its related disorders. Preclinical studies highlight antioxidant, ROS scavenging, mitochondria-stabilizing, and neuroplastic properties as some of the reported pharmacological activities. Efficacy is traditionally ascribed to terpene lactones and flavone glycosides. However, these quantified known active compounds in EGb 761® only cover approximately 30% of the mass balance, and there is the possibility that additional compounds from the residual 70% may enhance the activity of the quantified extract EGb 761®. Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are a quantitatively relevant component in EGb 761®, and some pharmacological activity has been reported for PACs from Ginkgo and other herbal sources. In this study, we focused on the effects of EGb 761® and its isolated PACs on mitochondrial bioenergetics and neuroplasticity in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. We successfully demonstrated positive effects of EGb 761® and its isolated PACs on several mitochondrial characteristics and neurite outgrowth. As PACs exhibited similar effects compared to the respective extract concentration, they can be considered a pharmacologically relevant component of EGb 761®. |
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| ISSN: | 1663-9812 |