Description
Ginkgolide A is a terpene lactone found in Ginkgo that exhibits neuroprotective, anti-angiogenic, neuromodulatory, and anxiolytic activities. In cellular models of Alzheimer’s disease, ginkgolide A decreases phosphorylation of tau protein, inhibits GSK-3β, and increases phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt. Ginkgolide A may also act as an agonist at the pregnane X receptor (PXR). This compound inhibits proliferation and migration in vitro and decreases superoxide anion levels, preventing neointimal hyperplasia. In the elevated plus maze test, ginkgolide A increases time spent in open arms.
References
Chen Y, Wang C, Hu M, et al. Effects of ginkgolide A on okadaic acid-induced tau hyperphosphorylation and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in N2a cells. Planta Med. 2012 Aug;78(12):1337-41. PMID: 22700047.
Weakley SM, Wang X, Mu H, et al. Ginkgolide A-gold nanoparticles inhibit vascular smooth muscle proliferation and migration in vitro and reduce neointimal hyperplasia in a mouse model. J Surg Res. 2011 Nov;171(1):31-9. PMID: 21571322.
Lau AJ, Yang G, Rajaraman G, et al. Human pregnane X receptor agonism by Ginkgo biloba extract: assessment of the role of individual ginkgolides. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2010 Dec;335(3):771-80. PMID: 20739453.
Kuribara H, Weintraub ST, Yoshihama T, et al. An anxiolytic-like effect of Ginkgo biloba extract and its constituent, ginkgolide-A, in mice. J Nat Prod. 2003 Oct;66(10):1333-7. PMID: 14575433.
