Abstract:
The Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 is purported to improve brain function by
increasing cerebral blood flow and increasing glucose utilization to the brain. The present
study sought to provide evidence that EGb 761 supplementation could decrease blood
and hepatic glucose levels of hyperglycemic male albino rats. Oral Glucose Tolerance
Tests (OGTI) were conducted among male albino rats following a 50-<lay period of
dietary supplementation of EGb 761 al doses of O, 1.2, and 2.4 mg/kg body weight Blood
glucose levels were measured al various time intervals and hepatic glucose levels were
measured postmortem. Analyses of measured blood and hepatic glucose levels revealed
that EGb 761 supplementation significantly lowered these parameters to levels similar to
those of the untreated control rats. The glucose lowering property of EGb 761 is
attributed to the presence of terpenoids in the extract. The terpenoids are known to induce
insulin-mediated glucose uptake from blood to the liver.
