Ginkgo biloba inhibits growth of gastric cancer cells Ginkgo biloba appears to induce apoptosis in gastric cancer cells according to researchers at Yangzhou University in China. Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death. Some call it “the deliberate suicide of a cell in a multicellular organism for the greater good of the whole individual.” Thirty patients with gastric cancer were treated with ginkgo capsules. The areas of their tumors were measured by electron gastroscope before and after treatment, then the inhibitory and effective rates were calculated. Researchers found that within three days of treatment ginkgo “could reduce the area of tumors and the effective rate was 73.4%.” They also noted that ginkgo “could induce apoptosis (cell death) and differentiation in tumor cells of patients with gastric cancer. Ginkgo could inhibit the growth of human gastric cancer cells.” Considerable research has demonstrated that antioxidant supplements can often induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Ginkgo appears to have this effect by influencing activity of certain genes which are involved in cancer cell proliferation. Scientists concluded that “the therapeutic mechanism of ginkgo on human gastric cancer may relate to its effects on the expression of c-myc, bcl-2 and c-fos genes, which can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis and differentiation of tumor cells. World Journal of Gastroenterology 9(11):2424-2427, 2003 Source: www.swansonvitamins.com Thanks to Liz M. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.