Scientific Name:
Ginkgo biloba
Common Name: Maidenhair Tree Angiosperm or Gymnosperm: Gymnosperm Natural Habitat: Commonly in deep sandy soils with constant sunlight. Has the ability to adapt to the environment relatively easily no matter how tough Mother Nature is towards it because the Maidenhair has survived since the time before the dinosaurs. Unfortunately it has been in the endanger category since 2002. Leaf Pattern: Fan liked shaped leaf, with a simple alternative pattern, with a light green shade with a broad edge. Germination Process: Known as the dioeciously species, the males have one inch long catkins and the females peduncle are about 2 inches long cone like look. Referred as the naked seed, has a very pungent smell but the seed itself is edible and matures in the fall when frost begins to form. If the seed is fortunate enough to sprout, it will take about 25-30 years for the Maidenhair to reach adult maturity. Animals and Plants in Area: During the Triassic period, the Maidenhair would be the main source of food for large herbivorous dinosaurs. Now the seeds can be consumed by a variety of birds. Bark: Grayish outer color, having twisted ridges running all along the trunk and branches. Twigs have a more traditional brown color with countless spur shoots sprouting about 3 inches apart on each twig. Size: 40 meters (131.2 ft.) high and about 4 meters (13.1 ft.) in diameter Ethnobotany (Human Use): With its lavishing light color wood the maidenhair produces, humans like to use the woods for its sturdiness, flexibility and silky shine. It was used in ancient times in Japan for building tables, shelves, chairs, and utensils for their tea times. The Japanese would use the seeds to heal almost any health problem. They would use it for Colds, coughs, sores, indigestion, fevers and even diarrhea. The maidenhair leafs have also been used for medicine as well. The Chinese use the leafs for respiratory health problems such as asthma and bronchitis. More and more research has been done since the late 1950’s, challenging chemists and pharmacists to find the concentration and used for the right treatments. Scientists have found that the Maidenhair extraction contains 24% flavonoids and 6% terpenes. In the 1988, “Dr. Corey of Harvard University won the Nobel prize for among others the fact that he synthesized ginkgolide B, which is being investigated for instance for its use to prevent rejection of transplanted organs and for asthma and toxic shock.” |
Maidenhair tree, #8
Leaves of Maidenhair tree
Base of Maidenhair tree
Bark of Maidenhair tree
Trunk of Maidenhair tree
Location of Maidenhair tree
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Summarize Research:
Maidenhair trees strong resistance to radiation and natural remedies can educe symptoms for humans like blood clots. China still uses the Maidenhair seeds for asthma treatments. Over in Europe, the Germans prescribe medicines extracted from the Maidenhair almost more than any other plant; it is even covered by their universal health care. Experiments concluded that medicines from the Maidenhair improve memory loss, reduce head pains and can even help prevent hearing loss which would be huge for the future generation since young adult tend to listen to loud music.
Research in France tested to see if Plant extracts from the Maidenhair can reduce risk for Alzheimer disease in senior citizens. The study would be over a 5-year span testing in 25 different memory centers with a sample size of 2854 patients. Patients would take a series of different memory tests and would get ratings based on what scale they use. Results showed that patients did not differ enough from testing year to year with difference in test scores being only a 0.9% increase which is not a statistically significant result concluding that extracts from the Maidenhair do not reduce the risk of Alzheimer disease in seniors. (Hirsch)
With many possible extracts from the Maidenhair, scientists wanted to see if perhaps it could prevent cardiovascular disease. They tested the Maidenhairs nuts. Using mice to test their theories, the nuts were tested using Human Hepatoma cell. Methanol extract of the lipid fraction and water soluble fractions reduced the levels of heptatic cholesterol but increasing the serum cholesterol. The idea is to reduce holsterol levels not raise it, therefore they wanted to know which fraction caused what. The lipid fraction caused the decrease in hepatic cholesterol while the water soluble fraction increased serum cholesterol. The research concluded, “The lipid soluble fraction of Ginkgo nut may have potential to be used for the purpose of prevention of cardiovascular diseases.”
Creative Essay:
Being the oldest living species on the planet, the Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba) is mostly popular in the medical field. For thousands of years, extracts from the leaves and seeds of the Maidenhair were used to help ease the pain of ancient Chinese and Japanese people. Modern research is become clearer and clearer that extracts can improve memory loss, which is what humans find to be difficult and frustrating in the later parts of life. Outside the medical field, the Maidenhair has being feeding different species for millions of years. Their unique, fan shaped leafs attract the eyes of humans and animals alike. The strong quality wood, holding the ornament structure upright through the good and bad times. The bad times were rough. The Maidenhair tree is by far one of fittest species in the world. Surviving several ice ages and battling the constant environmental changes, the Maidenhair has always stood strong. However, dendrologists have been concern about the population size in the past decade. Officially claiming it is an endangered species as of 2002.
References:
Eat your Ginkgo. (1998). Herizons, 12(2), 11.
Hirsch, C. (2013). 2012 - Ginkgo biloba extract did not reduce risk for Alzheimer disease in elderly patients with memory complaints. ACP Journal Club, 158(2), 1. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-158-2-201301150-02007
Mahadevan, S., Park, Y., & Park, Y. (2008). Modulation of cholesterol metabolism by Ginkgo biloba L. nuts and their extract. Food Research International, 41(1), 89-95. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2007.10.002
Non-Research References:
Kwant, C. (2013) The Ginkgo Pages. Retrieved from http://kwanten.home.xs4all.nl/index.htm
Pintus, K. (2003) Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba). Retrieved from http://www.arkive.org/maidenhair-tree/ginkgo-biloba/
Sieler, J., Peterson, J., Jensen, E. (2012). Ginkgo Ginkgoaceae Ginkgo biloba L. Retrieved from http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=122
Maidenhair trees strong resistance to radiation and natural remedies can educe symptoms for humans like blood clots. China still uses the Maidenhair seeds for asthma treatments. Over in Europe, the Germans prescribe medicines extracted from the Maidenhair almost more than any other plant; it is even covered by their universal health care. Experiments concluded that medicines from the Maidenhair improve memory loss, reduce head pains and can even help prevent hearing loss which would be huge for the future generation since young adult tend to listen to loud music.
Research in France tested to see if Plant extracts from the Maidenhair can reduce risk for Alzheimer disease in senior citizens. The study would be over a 5-year span testing in 25 different memory centers with a sample size of 2854 patients. Patients would take a series of different memory tests and would get ratings based on what scale they use. Results showed that patients did not differ enough from testing year to year with difference in test scores being only a 0.9% increase which is not a statistically significant result concluding that extracts from the Maidenhair do not reduce the risk of Alzheimer disease in seniors. (Hirsch)
With many possible extracts from the Maidenhair, scientists wanted to see if perhaps it could prevent cardiovascular disease. They tested the Maidenhairs nuts. Using mice to test their theories, the nuts were tested using Human Hepatoma cell. Methanol extract of the lipid fraction and water soluble fractions reduced the levels of heptatic cholesterol but increasing the serum cholesterol. The idea is to reduce holsterol levels not raise it, therefore they wanted to know which fraction caused what. The lipid fraction caused the decrease in hepatic cholesterol while the water soluble fraction increased serum cholesterol. The research concluded, “The lipid soluble fraction of Ginkgo nut may have potential to be used for the purpose of prevention of cardiovascular diseases.”
Creative Essay:
Being the oldest living species on the planet, the Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba) is mostly popular in the medical field. For thousands of years, extracts from the leaves and seeds of the Maidenhair were used to help ease the pain of ancient Chinese and Japanese people. Modern research is become clearer and clearer that extracts can improve memory loss, which is what humans find to be difficult and frustrating in the later parts of life. Outside the medical field, the Maidenhair has being feeding different species for millions of years. Their unique, fan shaped leafs attract the eyes of humans and animals alike. The strong quality wood, holding the ornament structure upright through the good and bad times. The bad times were rough. The Maidenhair tree is by far one of fittest species in the world. Surviving several ice ages and battling the constant environmental changes, the Maidenhair has always stood strong. However, dendrologists have been concern about the population size in the past decade. Officially claiming it is an endangered species as of 2002.
References:
Eat your Ginkgo. (1998). Herizons, 12(2), 11.
Hirsch, C. (2013). 2012 - Ginkgo biloba extract did not reduce risk for Alzheimer disease in elderly patients with memory complaints. ACP Journal Club, 158(2), 1. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-158-2-201301150-02007
Mahadevan, S., Park, Y., & Park, Y. (2008). Modulation of cholesterol metabolism by Ginkgo biloba L. nuts and their extract. Food Research International, 41(1), 89-95. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2007.10.002
Non-Research References:
Kwant, C. (2013) The Ginkgo Pages. Retrieved from http://kwanten.home.xs4all.nl/index.htm
Pintus, K. (2003) Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba). Retrieved from http://www.arkive.org/maidenhair-tree/ginkgo-biloba/
Sieler, J., Peterson, J., Jensen, E. (2012). Ginkgo Ginkgoaceae Ginkgo biloba L. Retrieved from http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=122