A single dose of Ginkgo biloba does not affect soleus motoneuron pool excitability

EGb 761 has been shown to increase acetylcholine synthesis and release and increase cholinergic receptors leading to an increase in cholinergic neurotransmission. These effects may be observed in the neuromuscular system, manifested by changes in motoneuron pool excitability as measured by the Hoffmann reflex to motor response (H/M) ratio. The objective was to determine whether a single dose of EGb 761 affects motoneuron pool excitability of the soleus muscle as measured by the H/M ratio. Following initial soleus H/M measurements, 20 healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups (control 180 g cellulose placebo, and 180 g EGb 761). H/M ratios were recorded 1, 2, and 3 hours post treatment. A 3 X 4 repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to analyze differences in H/M ratio between treatments. No differences were observed between treatments (p = 0.75) or over time (p = 0.17), and there was not a treatment by time interaction (p = 0.27). A single dose of 180 g of EGb 761 does not affect soleus motoneuron pool excitability.