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Ginkgo Biloba extract for angina pectoris: A systematic review

  • Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ginkgo Biloba extract for patients with angina pectoris according to the available evidence.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched for all of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of angina pectoris treatments with Ginkgo Biloba extract, either alone or combined with routine Western medicine (RWM), and controlled by untreated, placebo, Chinese patent medicine, or RWM treatment. The RCTs were retrieved from the following electronic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, ProQuest Health and Medical Complete, Springer, Elsevier, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Wanfang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP database, China Biology Medicine (CBM), Chinese Medical Citation Index (CMCI), from the earliest database records to December 2012. No language restriction was applied. Study selection, data extraction, quality assessment, and data analyses were conducted according to the Cochrane standards. RevMan 5.1.0 provided by Cochrane Collaboration The data were analysed by using.

Results

A total of 23 RCTs (involving 2,529 patients) were included and the methodological quality was evaluated as generally low. Ginkgo Biloba extract with RWM was more effective in angina relief and electrocardiogram improvement than RWM alone. Reported adverse events included epigastric discomfort, nausea, gastrointestinal reaction, and bitter taste.

Conclusions

Ginkgo Biloba extract may have beneficial effects on patients with angina pectoris, although the low quality of existing trials makes it difficult to draw a satisfactory conclusion. More rigorous, high quality clinical trials are needed to provide conclusive evidence.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China

    Tian Sun  (孙天)

  2. Cardiovascular Diseases Center, Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China

    Tian Sun  (孙天) & Xian Wang  (王显)

  3. Beijing University Cardiology Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China

    Xian Wang  (王显)

  4. Cardiovascular Diseases Center, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China

    Hao Xu  (徐浩)

Authors
  1. Tian Sun  (孙天)
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  2. Xian Wang  (王显)
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  3. Hao Xu  (徐浩)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xian Wang  (王显).

Additional information

Supported by the Graduate Student Projects of Beijng University of Chinese Medicine (No. 2014-JYBZZ-XS-133)

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Sun, T., Wang, X. & Xu, H. Ginkgo Biloba extract for angina pectoris: A systematic review. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 21, 542–550 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2070-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2070-0

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