Phytother Res. 2002 May; 16(3): 253-5.

Comparative study of two Ginkgo biloba extracts on the phagocytic activity and DTH response of healthy mice.

VillaseÃ±o-GarcÃa MM, Puebla-PÃ©rez AM, Lozoya X.

Immunopharmacology of Natural Products Laboratory, Biomedical Research Centre in Western Area, IMSS, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. mmvilla@cucs.udg.mx

The phagocytic activity and delayed-type Hypersensitivity (DTH) response to dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) of healthy BALB/c mice treated orally (100 mg/kg/day for 7 days) using two Ginkgo biloba extracts were studied. The phytopharmaceuticals Gb 30 (Alban Muller International, France) and EGb 761 (Schwabe, Germany) administered orally stimulated the phagocytic activity of peritoneal and alveolar macrophages. Likewise, the DTH response was found to be increased only with Gb 30 treatment. These results suggest that Ginkgo biloba possesses immunological activity in addition to the biological activity reported. The different chemical concentration of the components of the Ginkgo biloba extracts mentioned above may be responsible for the differences in the observed findings.