Bilobalide ginkgo extract health benefit and benefit for nerve health

Bilobalide, a constituent of ginkgo biloba, has neuroprotective properties. Its mechanism of action is not fully understood, but it may interact with neuronal transmission mediated by glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Bilobalide reduces the release of glycine under ischemic conditions.

Nerve protective effect of bilobalide
Bilobalide inhibits 6-OHDA-induced activation of NF-kappaB and loss of dopaminergic neurons in rat substantia nigra.
Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2008 May; Department of Pharmacology, Soochow University School of Medicine, Laboratory of Aging and Nervous Diseases, Soochow University School of Medicine, Suzhou 215123, China.
We investigated the effects of bilobalide on the activation of NF-kappaB, and apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). A rat model of Parkinson's disease was produced. Bilobalide was administered once a day for 7 days. The rats were subjected to locomotor activity and rotational behavior testing 2 or 3 weeks after the 6-hydroxydopamine infusion. The behavioral changes due to 6-hydroxydopamine were significantly restored by bilobalide pretreatment. Bilobalide inhibited the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced loss of TH-positive neurons, decreased the activation of NF-kappaB, and protected dopaminergic neurons from apoptosis remarkably. NF-kappaB activation contributes to the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons, and the inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway is likely to be involved in the neuroprotective effect of bilobalide.