Bilovas Plus

Bilovas Plus Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Ginkgo biloba extract contains a group of terpene lactones (notably, ginkgolides and diterpenes) and ginkgo flavone glycosides (notably, ginkgetin, bilobetin, and sciadopitysin) that have antioxidant and vasoactive properties. Most of the studies that investigate the effect of ginkgo biloba use the standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) 761 (EGb761), which was developed by a German pharmaceutical company in 1964. EGb761 contains 6% terpene lactones and 24% flavonoid glycosides. Flavonoids include quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin. Lactones include ginkgolide A, ginkgolide B, ginkgolide C, bilobalide, and ginkgotoxin, a lactone that is structurally related to pyridoxine. Ginkgo biloba is an herbal plant that is now cultivated worldwide. It is originally native to China, and ginkgo biloba extract has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.

After its nootropic properties were discovered, ginkgo biloba has gained attention as a therapeutic ingredient for memory and concentration enhancement in cognitive impairment and neurogenerative diseases, such as dementia. Ginkgo biloba was investigated in preliminary studies for a variety of therapeutic purposes such as improving cardiovascular health, sexual dysfunction, psychiatric disorders, skin disorders, and glaucoma. Ginkgo biloba is found in a number of homeopathic and over-the-counter herbal products and dietary supplements, but it has no approved therapeutic indications by regulatory bodies, such as the FDA, EMA, and Health Canada. Ginkgo folium, the leaf extract of Ginkgo biloba, is considered an anti-dementia drug by the World Health Organization.

Ginkgo biloba is a herbal ingredient with demonstrated antioxidant, vasoactive, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, and fibrinolytic properties. Ginkgo biloba has been investigated for use in a variety of medical conditions, but the most extensively studied area is in the context of cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disorders. Ginkgo biloba was examined as a potential nootropic agent or cognitive enhancer but research findings supporting the therapeutic efficacy of ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) in dementia remain controversial. Some clinical studies of dementia that were up to one year long showed that EGb improves the cognitive performance and social functioning of patients. However, other studies did not support its clinical benefit for patients with cognitive impairment and dementia. Numerous meta-analysis studies showed insufficient evidence of the effectiveness of EGb in reducing both all-cause dementia incidence and Alzheimer's disease-associated dementia incidence in elderly patients with normal cognition or with mild cognitive impairment. Additionally, there is no up-to-date evidence that demonstrates the benefit of the long-term use of standardized EGb in reducing the risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease. A 2012 meta-analysis did not support the use of EGb in enhancing cognitive function in healthy adults.

Vinpocetine increases cerebral metabolism; it increases glucose and O2 consumption; improves cerebral hypoxia tolerance; shifts glucose metabolism to the energetically more favourable aerobic pathway, but it increases the anaerobic pathway as well; it elevates the ATP concentration and the ATP/AMP ratio in the brain, and elevates the cerebral norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin levels.

Vinpocetine considerably improves cerebral microcirculation by inhibiting platelet aggregation, reducing the pathologically increased blood viscosity, and increases erythrocyte deformability. It also promotes O2 transport into the tissues by reducing the O2 affinity of erythrocytes.

It selectively and intensely increases cerebral blood flow and the share of the brain in cardiac output, it reduces cerebral vascular resistance without affecting systemic circulation (blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance). It does not elicit steal phenomenon; on the contrary, it primarily improves the blood supply of the injured and ischaemic area while it remains unchanged in the intact areas (inverse steal effect). It further increases blood flow which is already increased as a result of hypoxia.

Trade Name Bilovas Plus
Generic Ginkgo Biloba + Vinpocetine
Weight 10mg
Type Tablet
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd
Available Country India
Last Updated: September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am
Bilovas Plus
Bilovas Plus

Uses

Ginkgo biloba is a herbal supplement found in over-the-counter or unapproved homeopathic products for various health conditions, such as cognitive, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and reproductive health disorders.

Ginkgo biloba does not currently have any approved therapeutic indications, and there is insufficient evidence to support its unapproved use. It is available in over-the-counter herbal products mostly for oral use, to improve memory and cognitive problems.

All forms of acute and chronic cerebral circulatory insufficiency: TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack), reversible ischaemic neurological deficiency, progressive stroke, completed stroke, post-apoplectic conditions, multiinfarct dementia, cerebral arteriosclerosis, post-traumatic, hypertensive encephalopathy etc.

For the reduction of psychic or neurological symptoms of cerebral insufficiency (e.g., memory disturbances, dizziness, headache, aphasia, apraxia, locomotor disorders etc.).

Ophthalmology: It can be used for the treatment of vascular disorders of the choroid and retina due to arteriosclerosis, vasospasm, macular degeneration, arterial or venous thrombosis or embolism, and glaucoma secondary to the above mentioned disorders.

Otology: For the treatment of impaired hearing of vascular or toxic (iatrogenic) origin, presbyacusis, Meniere’s disease, cochleovestibular neuritis, tinnitus and dizziness of labyrinth origin.

For the treatment of vasovegetative symptoms of climacteric syndrome.For the treatment of vasovegetative symptoms of climacteric syndrome.

Bilovas Plus is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Cognitive Dysfunctions, Cognitive Function, DepressionCerebrovascular stenosis, Neurological Disorders

How Bilovas Plus works

Two key active ingredients in ginkgo biloba are terpene lactones (notably ginkgolides and diterpenes) and ginkgo flavone glycosides (notably ginkgetin, bilobetin, and sciadopitysin), which are present at varying concentrations. Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 is the standardized extract of ginkgo biloba used in studies, which contains 6% terpenoids and 24% flavonoid glycosides. Animal studies have shown that ginkgo biloba works on several neurotransmitter pathways and brain structures. Flavones were shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation; inhibit the uptake of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine; and inhibit platelet aggregation. Terpene lactones may also act as potent antagonists of the platelet-activating factor and may possess anti-ischemic and fibrinolytic effects. They were also shown to downregulate adrenal peripheral benzodiazepine receptors and increase adrenocorticotropic hormone levels. Ginkgo biloba also reversibly inhibits monoamine oxidase A; and modestly inhibits anticholinesterase activity, leading to enhanced cholinergic transmission in the brain.

Several studies suggest that ginkgo biloba exerts neuroprotective effects by reducing free radical production in the prefrontal cortex, which may explain its improvement on short-term memory. Ginkgo biloba extract acts as a free radical scavenger, protecting neurons from oxidative damage and apoptosis related to aging, cerebral ischemia, and neurodegenerative disorders. Ginkgo biloba also inhibits amyloid-β neurotoxicity and protects against hypoxic challenges and increased oxidative stress. One study showed that bilobalide, a terpene lactone, delays the onset of hypoxic glycolysis. Ginkgo biloba has the potential to regulate metabolism, stabilize the membrane, and promote vasodilation. In the arterial endothelium, EGb stimulated the release of endogenous relaxing factors, such as endothelium-derived relaxing factor and prostacyclin. In the inflammatory environment that causes tissue damage, EGb promoted nitric oxide production, leading to enhanced peripheral and cerebral blood flow.

Dosage

Bilovas Plus dosage

Vinpocetine is taken 15-30 mg daily in 3 divided doseswith meals. The maintenance dose is 15 mg three times daily over long periods.

Side Effects

Vinpocetine is well tolerated. In some cases transient fall of blood pressure and tachycardia may occur.

Toxicity

Oral LD50 of standardized extract in mice is 7730 mg/kg, which corresponds to 2300 mg/kg of active ingredients, 1900 mg/kg of flavone glycosides, and 464 mg/kg of terpene lactones. Intravenous LD50 is 1100 mg/kg.

No case of overdose has been reported so far. Cyanogenic glycosides found in raw ginkgo seeds are potentially toxic compounds; thus, contact or ingestion of ginkgo seeds can lead to serious reactions such as allergic skin reaction, including acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, and convulsions. Ginkgo toxicity can manifest as bleeding, seizure, and serotonin syndrome. As there is no known antidote for ginkgo toxicity, treatment includes discontinuation of ginkgo and symptomatic and supportive care. Seizures may be attributed to ginkgotoxin, which can cause seizures at high doses.

Precaution

Because Vinpocetine can reduce the ability of blood to clot, those individuals with a tendency to bleed should avoid Vinpocetine.

Interaction

Slight changes in prothrombin time have been noted in those adding Vinpocetine to Warfarin dosing. The changes appear minimal. There are no other interactions reported so far. Therefore, it can be applied in combinations.

Volume of Distribution

No data available.

Elimination Route

Studies assessed the pharmacokinetic parameters of terpene lactones, the main component of ginkgo biloba. Following oral administration of ginkgo biloba solution, the mean absolute bioavailability was 80% for ginkgolide A, 88% for ginkgolide B and 79% for biloalide. In an early rat study, about 60% of radiolabeled EGb 761 was absorbed with a Tmax of 1.5 hours. The highest amount of radioactivity was measured in the stomach and small intestine.

In another study, after a single oral dose of 120 mg EGb 761 in healthy volunteers, Cmax was 22.22 ± 4.57 ng/mL for ginkgolide A, 8.27 ± 1.82 ng/mL for ginkgolide B, and 54.42 ± 13.62 ng/mL for biloalide. AUC0-∞ was 121.35 ± 22.92 ng × h/mL for ginkgolide A, 59.88 ± 11.39 ng × h/mL for ginkgolide B, and 217.24 ± 44.07 ng × h/mL for biloalide. Tmax ranged from 1.17 to 1.54 hours for those three compounds.

Half Life

Unpublished human data reports that after oral administration of 80 mg EGb 761, the half-life was four hours for ginkgolides A and six hours for ginkgolides B. The half-life of bilobalide was three hours after administration of 120 mg EGb 761 extract.

Clearance

No data available.

Elimination Route

At 72 hours following oral administration in rats, about 38% of the ginkgo biloba extract was excreted via expiration, 22% was excreted in urine, and 29% was excreted in feces. About 70% of ginkgolides A, 50% of ginkgolides B, and 30% of bilobalide were excreted unchanged in the urine.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy category- Not classified

Contraindication

Vinpocetine is contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation. Hypersensitivity to its components is also contraindicated.

Storage Condition

Store in a cool and dry place, protected from light and moisture

Innovators Monograph

You find simplified version here Bilovas Plus


*** Taking medicines without doctor's advice can cause long-term problems.
Share