Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels grow toward tumors to promote new growth. When tumors grow beyond about 1-2 mm, they require additional oxygen and nutrients. They send chemical signals to the body to promote new blood vessels to supply the tumor, allowing them  to grow and eventually to metastasize, spreading cancer throughout the body. Efforts to reduce or eliminate angiogenesis have become one of the most promising and exciting areas in cancer therapy. If angiogenesis can be stopped, tumors will whither and die.

New research has shown that extracts of Ginkgo biloba are powerful antagonists to angiogenesis. A research paper published in Fundamentals of Clinical Pharmacology found that exposure of human breast cancer cells to Ginkgo extract inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells. Likewise with exposure of human bladder cancer cells exposed to the same Ginkgo extract.

A Boston-based team led by Dr. Bin Ye and Dr. Daniel Cramer at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that women who took Ginkgo supplements for six months or longer had a 60% lower risk  for ovarian cancer.

Research is ongoing and more is needed to precisely define how effective Ginkgo biloba will be in the search for cancer therapies. In the meantime, those people with tinnitus using Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula, including pharmaceutical-grade Ginkgo biloba extract, will benefit from the anti-angiogenesis properties of Ginkgo biloba.

Ginkgo biloba has many other healthful properties such as acting as an antioxidant, blood vessel health, reducing atherosclerosis, brain health and anti-depressant activity.

Look for a more detailed discussion of the anti-cancer properties of Ginkgo biloba in a future article in our newsletter, Quiet Times.

Barry Keate