Family: Ginkgoaceae
English : Maidenhair tree, Ginkgo, Kew tree, Fossil tree, Temple tree.
Urdu : Pankha Plant
Kashmiri : Aziz tree
(Plant dedicated to Shaheed -e-Azemat
(Martyr of Determination) Sheikh Abdul Aziz )
Hindi : Balkuwari
Arabic: Mabad ag
Botanical Information : Ginkgo biloba L., commonly called ginkgo or maidenhair tree, is a long-lived,
deciduous, shade tree from China that can reach a mature height over
one hundred feet and is the only genus and species of the Ginkgoaceae
family existing today. Know for its three-inch wide, fan-shaped leaves
that turn golden yellow in autumn, the ginkgo tree can be found also It
is found in
Kashmir , Gilgat, IRAN, Afghanistan and North Americaand is
one of oldest species of trees in existence today. Individual ginkgo
trees have been known to live as long as 1,000 years. The trees, which
are dioecious (bearing male flowers on one tree and female flowers on
another), may not flower until they are twenty to thirty years old. The
female trees produce a one to one-half-inch, plum-shaped, orange fruit.
It is the leaves that are harvested for medicinal purposes.
Description of the plant :
Plant : Deciduous Tree
Height : 30 m (98 feet)
Flovering : April to May
Scent : Scented Tree
Bioactive Components : The main bioactive components of ginkgo
leaves are flavonoids, biflavonoides, proanthocyanidins, and triactonic
diterpenes, which include the ginkgolides A, B & C. Ginkgolide B has
been shown to inhibit platelets in the blood from coagulating. The
flavonoids in ginkgo have demonstrated very strong antioxidant effects.
Uses and Treatments : Ginkgo has been used for medicinal
purposes for almost 5,000 years. In Chinese traditional medicine, it is
used to treat asthma, bronchitis, and various brain disorders. In Asia,
the seeds of the ginkgo tree are used to aid digestion and to reduce the
intoxicating effects of alcohol. In Europe and North America, ginkgo
extract is used for the treatment of circulatory problems, immune system
dysfunction and cognitive disorders, including memory loss. There are
currently no approved treatments involving the use of ginkgo extracts in
North America. However, the FDA regards ginkgo extracts as "probably
safe". Germany's
Commission E.
has approved ginkgo extract for the treatment of intermittent
claudication, vascular vertigo, and vascular tinnitus. Some of the uses of ginkgo are listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Modern and traditional uses of Ginkgo biloba.
Modern Uses Traditional/Folk Uses
- Loss of cognitive ability - Brain disorders
- Poor circulation - Asthma and bronchitis
- Vision and hearing problems - Increase life span and sexual potency
Site Selection :
Ginkgo grows best in deep, moist, sandy soil and prefers full to
partial sun in zones four to eight. It will tolerate poor and compacted
soils except permanently wet soils. Ginkgo will grow in a wide range of
soil pH and can tolerate heat and drought once the trees get
established. For a tree crop, preparation of the soil is just as
important as a field crop.
Planting : Propagation
can be done by seed, cuttings, or grafting. Cuttings are the preferred
method of propagating ginkgo to assure planting of only male flowering
trees. Seeds can be planted in the spring or fall. Tim Blakley,
co-author of Medicinal Herbs in the Garden, Field, and Marketplace,
recommends stratifying the seed for four to six weeks if planting in the
spring. Blakley sows his ginkgo seeds in one to five gallon pots, then
transplants seedlings to the field, spacing them ten to twenty feet
apart. Mulching the plants will keep weeds down. Ginkgo can grow twelve
to eighteen inches a year. Blakley states the trees should reach a
height of six to eight feet before beginning to harvest.
Insects and Diseases : Ginkgo trees have developed an amazing resistance to disease and pests.
The Index of Plant Diseases in the United States lists the following
diseases for Ginkgo biloba: leaf spots, Glomerella cingulata
(anthracnose) and Phyllosticta gingko; sapwood or wound rot, Fomes
conatus, Oxyporus populinus, and Polyporus spp. (sometimes found on
living trees following injuries); root knot nematodes, Heterodera
marioni and Meloidogyne sp.; root rot, Phymatotrichum omnivorum; and a
seed rot, Xylaria longeana.
Harvesting, Cleaning, and Drying : The
leaves from a ginkgo tree are harvested in fall, as the leaves are
turning yellow. Blakley’s method of harvesting is to cut the branches
with pruning shears, and then pull the leaves off of the branches. He
recommends placing the leaves on racks in a dryer designed for herbs,
and turning the leaves several times during the drying process to avoid
matting. Ed Fletcher, Strategic Sourcing, Inc, suggests setting the
dryer temperature at 105o-110oF. Drying time averages from twelve to
fourteen hours but may increase or decrease depending on the humidity in
the air. When adequately dried, the leaves should have a crinkly
andcrumbly feel. Fletcher states that there should be no flexibility in
the leaf without breaking. When the midrib is dry, the leaf will also be
dry. Package the dried leaves in woven poly bags that are light proof
or in corrugated boxes, and store in a cool, dry, dark location.
Annual
Consumption and Dollar Value. In 2001, between 4.5 million pounds and
5.1 million pounds of dried ginkgo leaves were consumed. This was 34%
higher than the amount in 1997 and about 5% higher than the amount in
2000. The dollar value in 2001 was about $25 million, which was 40%
greater than the dollar value in 1997.
Supply and Demand : Historically,
positive clinical support propels demand for this botanical. Clinical
trials are being done on Ginkgo biloba as a treatment option for
Alzheimer’s disease. An aging population base in North America and
Europe has increased demand, due to ginkgo’s antiaging actions. European
functional food manufacturers are also incorporating this material into
more nutritional supplements and beverages.
Supply and demand for ginkgo has
reached equilibrium with a very stable market. Supplies come almost
exclusively from large-scale cultivation. Large-scale cultivation is
occurring worldwide. A small number of growers produce over 95% of the
world’s supply. Large commercial plantations exist in South Carolina
(US), Japan, Korea, France and China. Sumter County, South Carolina, is
home to the largest ginkgo plantation in North America. Since the supply
of ginkgo comes exclusively from cultivated sources, little variation
exists in bioactive components among individual harvests. Customers are
primarily concerned with a lack of chemical residue on the material.
Typical bioactive percentages are 24% ginkgo flavoglycosides and 6%
terpene lactones.
Distribution Channels : Distribution channels for ginkgo are
highly structured. The maturity of this market has resulted in all
material flowing through large, vertically integrated companies. Most
organizations are located in Europe and draw on imported raw material
sources from all over the world.
Where available in :
Contact person : Sheikh Gulzaar (Head)
POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Ph: 01933-223705
Mob: 09858986794
