9 replies to this topic

[bliindsniper]

Hey everyone, I have been reading some studies on dopamine and ginkgo biloba and i have a question. I think its common knowledge that substances which increase dopamine in the brain tend to downregulate dopamine receptors. However, ginkgo biloba seems to not only increase dopamine in the brain but also (after 15 days of being fed to rats) it almost doubles dopamine receptor density. does anyone have an explanation for this?

 

Heres a link to the study http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/21640798

[Son of Perdition]

uhhhm, what?

[Area-1255]

Hey everyone, I have been reading some studies on dopamine and ginkgo biloba and i have a question. I think its common knowledge that substances which increase dopamine in the brain tend to downregulate dopamine receptors. However, ginkgo biloba seems to not only increase dopamine in the brain but also (after 15 days of being fed to rats) it almost doubles dopamine receptor density. does anyone have an explanation for this?

Heres a link to the study http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/21640798

This study says nothing about dopamine receptors, and therefore there is no doubling or relative increase.
This would be ridiculous even for the most massive advertisers to give that kind of figure. 
It's really talking about PVN dopamine LEVEL increase, or transmission.
This effect likely comes from ginkgo's GABA-A antagonism and / or the probable kappa antagonism.
 

Neuroscience.[/size] 2011 Aug 25;189:199-206. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.05.025. Epub 2011 May 30.[/size]
Ginkgo biloba extract enhances noncontact erection in rats: the role of dopamine in the paraventricular nucleus and the mesolimbic system.
Yeh KY1, Wu CH, Tai MY, Tsai YF.
Author information
 

Abstract

Penile erection is essential for successful copulation in males. Dopaminergic projections from the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) are thought to exert a facilitatory effect on penile erection. Our previous study showed that treatment with an extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves (EGb 761) enhances noncontact erection (NCE) in male rats. However, the relationship between NCE and dopaminergic activity in the PVN, VTA, and NAc remains unknown. The present study examined the relationship between NCE and central dopaminergic activity following EGb 761 treatment. We report here that, in comparison with the controls, there was a significant increase in the number of NCEs in rats after treatment with 50 mg/kg of EGb 761 for 14 days. EGb 761-treated rats also showed more NCEs than the same group before EGb 761 treatment. A significant increase in the expression of catecholaminergic neurons in the PVN and the VTA was seen by means of tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry, and tissue levels of dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the NAc were also markedly increased in the EGb 761-treated animals. However, the norepinephrine tissue levels in the PVN and the NAc in the EGb 761-treated group were not significantly different from those in the controls. Together, these results suggest that administration of EGb 761 increases dopaminergic activity in the PVN and the mesolimbic system to facilitate NCE in male rats.
Copyright © 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.



PMID:   21640798   [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Edited by Area-1255, 02 April 2015 - 06:44 PM.

[Synaptik]

Never experience any cognitive effects taking Ginkgo, and I take it everyday. I use it specifically for it's exceptional anti-oxidant potency. After all, ginkgo trees have survived Hiroshima ground zero blast sites and some trees live well over 1000 years. Ginkgo trees can tolerate and thrive in the world's most polluted urban environments. 

 

With it's remarkable safety profile long since established, that's all I needed to know. I'm turning 39 next month, and was carded twice last year at the liquor store. Don't have one grey hair on head or face, no wrinkles and haven't lead the most healthy lifestyle ever. While I'm mostly crediting genetics for this, I'm positive the Ginkgo is helping (although it's not the only anti-ox I take, it's the most frequent).

 

I hope my anecdotal experience can help someone.  

[Area-1255]

Never experience any cognitive effects taking Ginkgo, and I take it everyday. I use it specifically for it's exceptional anti-oxidant potency. After all, ginkgo trees have survived Hiroshima ground zero blast sites and some trees live well over 1000 years. Ginkgo trees can tolerate and thrive in the world's most polluted urban environments. 

 

With it's remarkable safety profile long since established, that's all I needed to know. I'm turning 39 next month, and was carded twice last year at the liquor store. Don't have one grey hair on head or face, no wrinkles and haven't lead the most healthy lifestyle ever. While I'm mostly crediting genetics for this, I'm positive the Ginkgo is helping (although it's not the only anti-ox I take, it's the most frequent).

 

I hope my anecdotal experience can help someone.  

I never said ginkgo wasn't helpful, I'm merely pointing out that your referenced study said nothing matching your original claim of it increasing receptor concentration. 

 

Ginkgo is a wonderful brain tonic, and imHo can be excellent for augmenting / enhancing N.O supplements and / or for standalone pump enhancement. 

 

Similarly, I would be careful for those who have a history of migraine and / or anxiety disorders (especially GAD,SD) as ginkgo may aggravate either of these via it's GABA-A antagonism....personally, it doesn't bother me but It takes ALOT for a substance to cause me anxiety.

[telecity]

 

Never experience any cognitive effects taking Ginkgo, and I take it everyday. I use it specifically for it's exceptional anti-oxidant potency. After all, ginkgo trees have survived Hiroshima ground zero blast sites and some trees live well over 1000 years. Ginkgo trees can tolerate and thrive in the world's most polluted urban environments. 

 

With it's remarkable safety profile long since established, that's all I needed to know. I'm turning 39 next month, and was carded twice last year at the liquor store. Don't have one grey hair on head or face, no wrinkles and haven't lead the most healthy lifestyle ever. While I'm mostly crediting genetics for this, I'm positive the Ginkgo is helping (although it's not the only anti-ox I take, it's the most frequent).

 

I hope my anecdotal experience can help someone.  

I never said ginkgo wasn't helpful, I'm merely pointing out that your referenced study said nothing matching your original claim of it increasing receptor concentration. 

 

Ginkgo is a wonderful brain tonic, and imHo can be excellent for augmenting / enhancing N.O supplements and / or for standalone pump enhancement. 

 

Similarly, I would be careful for those who have a history of migraine and / or anxiety disorders (especially GAD,SD) as ginkgo may aggravate either of these via it's GABA-A antagonism....personally, it doesn't bother me but It takes ALOT for a substance to cause me anxiety.

 

 

It wasn't the OP posting, but another member
 

[Area-1255]

 

 

Never experience any cognitive effects taking Ginkgo, and I take it everyday. I use it specifically for it's exceptional anti-oxidant potency. After all, ginkgo trees have survived Hiroshima ground zero blast sites and some trees live well over 1000 years. Ginkgo trees can tolerate and thrive in the world's most polluted urban environments. 

 

With it's remarkable safety profile long since established, that's all I needed to know. I'm turning 39 next month, and was carded twice last year at the liquor store. Don't have one grey hair on head or face, no wrinkles and haven't lead the most healthy lifestyle ever. While I'm mostly crediting genetics for this, I'm positive the Ginkgo is helping (although it's not the only anti-ox I take, it's the most frequent).

 

I hope my anecdotal experience can help someone.  

I never said ginkgo wasn't helpful, I'm merely pointing out that your referenced study said nothing matching your original claim of it increasing receptor concentration. 

 

Ginkgo is a wonderful brain tonic, and imHo can be excellent for augmenting / enhancing N.O supplements and / or for standalone pump enhancement. 

 

Similarly, I would be careful for those who have a history of migraine and / or anxiety disorders (especially GAD,SD) as ginkgo may aggravate either of these via it's GABA-A antagonism....personally, it doesn't bother me but It takes ALOT for a substance to cause me anxiety.

 

 

It wasn't the OP posting, but another member
 

 

I have a feeling you two have a connection.   

[Logic]

Gingko seems to be one of those herbs best taken in a mix of 3 or more herbs to counteract it and the others herbs' negative effects and emphasise the positive.

The Chinese have been putting these combos together for ages with good reason and to good effect.

http://www.longecity...tral-nootropic/

 

Personally;  the telomere effects and lifespan increases is why I am growing a tree.

Well that and the fact that I see no good reason to spend good money on an inferior product if I can have an abundant, fresh and free source of a supp.

[sparkk51]

Title is misleading.

[adoado]

Never experience any cognitive effects taking Ginkgo, and I take it everyday. I use it specifically for it's exceptional anti-oxidant potency. After all, ginkgo trees have survived Hiroshima ground zero blast sites and some trees live well over 1000 years. Ginkgo trees can tolerate and thrive in the world's most polluted urban environments. 

 

With it's remarkable safety profile long since established, that's all I needed to know. I'm turning 39 next month, and was carded twice last year at the liquor store. Don't have one grey hair on head or face, no wrinkles and haven't lead the most healthy lifestyle ever. While I'm mostly crediting genetics for this, I'm positive the Ginkgo is helping (although it's not the only anti-ox I take, it's the most frequent).

 

I hope my anecdotal experience can help someone.  

 

what about your body composition? are you fat? do you have belly? i started gingko just a week, but your experience is interesting for me,