The memory enhancing effects of a Ginkgo biloba/Panax ginseng combination in healthy middle-aged volunteers

The effects of capsules containing 60 mg of a standardised extract of Ginkgo biloba (GK501) and 100 mg of a standardised extract of Panax ginseng (G115) on various aspects of cognitive function were assessed in healthy middle-aged volunteers. A double blind, placebo controlled, 14 week, parallel gro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychopharmacologia 2000-11, Vol.152 (4), p.353-361
Main Authors: WESNES, K. A, WARD, T, MCGINTY, A, PETRINI, O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Cognition - drug effects
Double-Blind Method
Drug Interactions
Female
General pharmacology
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba - chemistry
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Memory - drug effects
Middle Aged
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Panax - chemistry
Panax ginseng
Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Plant Extracts - pharmacology
Plants, Medicinal
Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:The effects of capsules containing 60 mg of a standardised extract of Ginkgo biloba (GK501) and 100 mg of a standardised extract of Panax ginseng (G115) on various aspects of cognitive function were assessed in healthy middle-aged volunteers. A double blind, placebo controlled, 14 week, parallel group, repeated assessment, multi-centre trial of two dosing regimens, 160 mg b.i.d. and 320 mg o.d. was conducted. Two hundred and fifty-six healthy middle-aged volunteers successfully completed the study. On various study days (weeks 0, 4, 8, 12 and 14) the volunteers performed a selection of tests of attention and memory from the Cognitive Drug Research computerised cognitive assessment system prior to morning dosing and again, at 1, 3 and 6 h later. The volunteers also completed questionnaires about mood states, quality of life and sleep quality. The Ginkgo/ginseng combination was found significantly to improve an Index of Memory Quality, supporting a previous finding with the compound. This effect represented an average improvement of 7.5% and reflected improvements to a number of different aspects of memory, including working and long-term memory. This enhancement to memory was seen throughout the 12-week dosing period and also after a 2-week washout. This represents the first substantial demonstration of improvements to the memory of healthy middle-aged volunteers produced by a phytopharmaceutical.
ISSN:0033-3158
1432-2072
DOI:10.1007/s002130000533