ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF A GINKGO BILOBA LEAF EXTRACT (EGb 761) IN ANIMAL MODELS OF ALZHEIMER'S AND PARKINSON'S DISEASES

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are the most common neurodegenerative disorders in aging. Oxidative stress is a key mechanism of cell death in these pathologies and is considered as a therapeutic target. The available treatments with synthetic drugs produce undesired side effects. Therefore, the use of antioxidant agents from natural resources such as EGb761 is an alternative. EGb761 is a well-characterized extract obtained from Ginkgo biloba leaves after following a standardized procedure. EGb761 has a neuroprotective action that is related to its antioxidant/free radical scavenger properties. Therefore, its potential use has been suggested for the treatment of both diseases. This review discusses the antioxidant efficacy of EGb761 in preclinical studies related to these neurodegenerative diseases. This also includes diverse aspects of EGb761 such as chemical constituents, pharmacokinetics, and side effects. Preclinical studies performed both in vitro and in vivo of Alzheimer 's and Parkinson's diseases, shows that EGb761 produces neuroprotective/antioxidant effect. The use of EGb761 as an antioxidant agent in clinical trials has not been explored directly but indirect information support its use to both neurodegenerative diseases. Further clinical trials are needed to explore the potential clinical use of EGb761 in the treatment of patients suffering from these health conditions.