Abstract
Ginkgo biloba extracts (GBE) are increasingly used as a functional food in Japan. Although this extracts have been shown commercially to have many beneficial effects on cerebral and peripheral circulation, the details of their actions on cardiovascular system have not been sufficiently investigated yet. In the present study, we examined the effects of GBE on the cardiovascular function of male Wistar rats. When GBE (3.5 g/kg) was orally administrated to the rats once daily during three days, the heart rate significantly increased as shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, intravenously applied GBE (25 mg/kg) markedly increased the heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, velocity and flow. In in vitro experiment, GBE (0.1-1.0 mg/ml) significantly increased the beat rate and the contractile force of the atria isolated from the rats (Fig.2). These results suggest that excess intake of GBE directly and positively affects the heart of rats. [figure] Fig. 1. Effects of GBE on the heart rate [figure] Fig. 2. Effects of GBE on atria isolated from rats
