KARLSRUHE; GERMANY, 6 February 2012. With up to 15 % prevalence in adults, [1] tinnitus could well be called one of the modern scourges of humanity. Though the symptoms are not life threatening they still mar the everyday life of the patients and the underlying threat of chronification bears serious health consequences including depression, anger and anxiety.

With these dramatic figures and the grave impact on quality of life for tinnitus patients in mind, Alexander von Boetticher, an Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon in Luneburg, started his thorough review of studies conducted using Ginkgo biloba extract in patient groups suffering from tinnitus.

From the originally 57 studies that were identified in the PubMed search, 46 had to be ruled out as irrelevant by title and abstract. The remaining studies, including one that was provided by Schwabe as it had not been officially published up to that moment, were evaluated. Finally three studies of patients with tinnitus as a primary complaint fulfilled the inclusion criteria as well as five studies on patients suffering from dementia or age-associated cognitive decline with tinnitus as a concomitant complaint. In all studies that met the inclusion criteria the standardized Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® was used in different dosages.

In all identified and retrieved studies the standardized Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® was found to be superior to placebo in the treatment of tinnitus. This preparation (EGb 761® ) is a dry extract from Ginkgo biloba leaves (35-67:1), extraction solvent: acetone 60% (w/w). It is known to enhance microperfusion by increasing red blood cell deformability and decreasing whole blood viscosity.[2, 3] It protects the mitochondria from oxidative stress and improves energy metabolism, [4, 5]  thus attenuating damage to cochlear cells (the auditory portion of the inner ear) subject to increased energy demand or decreased perfusion. Pharmacological trials showed a significant decrease in the behavioural manifestations of tinnitus after application of EGb 761®. [6]

EGb 761® is a patented Ginkgo biloba extract developed and manufactured by Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG, Karlsruhe, Germany. It is widely recognized as the best researched phytomedicine world-wide and is available in more than 80 countries.

Sources: 

[1] Shargorodsky J, Curhan GC, Farwell WR. Prevalence and characteristics
of tinnitus among U S adults. Am J Med. 2010;123(8):711–718
[2] Költringer P, Langsteger W, Eber O. Dose-dependent hemorheological
effects and microcirculatory modifications following intravenous
administration of Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761®. Clin
Hemorheol. 1995;15(4):649–656.
[3] Erdinçler DS, Karakoç Y, Toplan S, et al. The effect of Ginkgo biloba
glycoside on the blood viscosity and erythrocyte deformability. Clin
Hemorheol. 1996;16(3):271–276.
[4] Sastre J, Millán A, García J, et al. A Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761®)
prevents mitochondrial aging by protecting against oxidative stress.
Free Radic Biol Med. 1998;24(2):298–304.
[5] Eckert A, Keil U, Scherping I, Hauptmann S, Müller WE. Stabilization
of mitochondrial membrane potential and improvement of neuronal
energy metabolism by Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761®. Ann N Y Acad
Sci. 2005;1056:474–485.
[6] Jastreboff PJ, Zhou S, Jastreboff MM, Kwapisz U, Gryczynska U.
Attenutation of salicylate-induced tinnitus by Ginkgo biloba extract in
rats. Audiol Neurootol. 1997;2(4):197–212.

Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment 2011:7 441– 447, Published Date July 2011
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S22793

Contacts
Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG
Mrs. Judith Elbert
Senior Global Product Manager
Phone: +49 721 4005 216
Email: judith.elbert@schwabe.de