The gingko biloba extracts (GBE) are known to inducing vasodilation by increasing NO or PGI2. However, the effects on the endothelial function and clinical symptoms of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) are not clear.

The flow-mediated endothelium-dependent brachial artery vasodilation using high-resolution ultrasound was measured before and 2 hours after intake of GBE (120 mg single PO) and 1 month after regular intake of GBE (80 mg bid PO) in 33 patients (mean: 60 yrs, 26 males) with CAD who had been diagnosed by coronary angiogram and managed with medication for more than 1 month.

The only one patient could not continue to take GBE due to severe nausea. The frequency or severity of chest pain was decreased in 31 patients among the other 32 patients. The flow-mediated brachial artery vasodilation (mean±SD) were significantly (p<0.001) improved from 8.9±3.9% before to 13.4±4.5% and 13.7±4.0% 2 hours and 1 month after taking GBE, respectively. The brachial artery diameter was increased from 4.42±0.67 mm before to 4.45±0.66 mm and 4.64±0.60 (p<0.005) after taking GBE, respectively. The endothelial function in patients with diabetes mellitus (5 from 33) was not improved 2 hours after taking GBE, but improved 1 month after GBE. The improvement of endothelial dysfunction in patients with hyperlipidemia or hypertension was less than patients without it.

GBE has favorable short- and long-term effects on the endothelial function and clinical symptoms as well as long-term vasodilatation in patients with CAD without serious side effects.