Mold Toxicity and Ginkgo Biloba

Functional Medicine Research with Dr. Nikolas Hedberg, DC

A new paper entitled “Isorhamnetin protects porcine oocytes from zearalenone-induced reproductive toxicity through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway” investigated the effects of a natural flavonoid called isorhamnetin on the damage caused by a toxin called Zearalenone (ZEA) to pig oocytes (immature egg cells).

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a harmful mycotoxin found in moldy grain like corn, oats, and millet that can cause irreversible damage to the reproductive system of animals and humans. It can cause reproductive disorders by binding to estrogen receptors and has been shown to impair the development of sperm and oocytes in humans and animals.

ZEA can cause oxidative stress that leads to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can be harmful and contribute to cell death.

ZEA can also disrupt pregnancy, inhibit the meiosis of oocytes, and induce mitochondrial damage and stress in the maturation of oocytes. Since ZEA is heat-stable and cannot be completely eliminated from the food chain, it is important to explore potential compounds that can protect against ZEA-induced damage to oocytes.

In recent years, natural substances called flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties, have gained attention for their ability to support the development of oocytes. For example, quercetin has been found to increase the proportion of porcine oocytes developing into blastocysts, while kaempferol has shown potential in reducing the negative effects of aging on the development of porcine oocytes by improving mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress.

Isorhamnetin is a compound found in the herb ginkgo biloba and in foods like pears, onions, and peanuts. It has various pharmacological activities, such as being an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral.

Isorhamnetin acts as an antioxidant by decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increasing the expression of SOD2 protein, which helps protect against oxidative stress.

This study found that isorhamnetin can protect the oocytes from ZEA-induced damage by improving their development, reducing oxidative stress, preventing mitochondrial dysfunction, and inhibiting apoptosis.

This research provides a potential solution for reproductive toxicity caused by ZEA and treating female infertility.

Mold Toxicity and Ginkgo Biloba Clinical Applications

Ginkgo biloba is rich in isorhamnetin as well as other powerful flavonoids like quercetin, kaempferol, and luteolin which makes it the perfect herb for patients with mold toxicity.

Ginkgo biloba has many benefits including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, anticoagulant, anti-obesity, hypolipidemic, hypotensive, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, adaptogenic, and it protects the brain, eye, inner ear, heart, liver, cardiovascular system, reproductive system, lungs, and kidneys.

Patients with mold toxicity tend to have reactivated herpes viruses like EBV, CMV, and HHV-6 and ginkgo biloba is effective against these types of viruses as explained in this article.

I use VascuSelect from Moss Nutrition which contains 120 mg of standardized ginkgo biloba extract along with grape seed extract and mango extract to further support microcirculation. 120 mg of ginkgo biloba twice a day is the usual dose for this versatile herbal medicine.

If you’re a practitioner who sees patients with mold toxicity and/or infertility, then VascuSelect should be considered an important part of your protocol.

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