Systemic and central nervous system metabolome changes associated with Ginkgo biloba treatment in non‐demented subjects

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundIn order to characterize the biochemical changes associated with Ginkgo biloba treatment, at metabolite and pathway level, we used a state‐of‐the‐art untargeted metabolomics approach in a well characterized cohort of healthy non‐demented subjects, with or without Ginkgo biloba treatment.MethodWe analysed data including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood measurements of proteomics, metabolomics, the methionine pathway, lipidomics, minerals, miRNAs, sterols and neuroinflammatory markers in samples obtained from both groups, covering over 2500 analytes and/or molecules.ResultData analysis at individual metabolic levels revealed differences in the expression of 15 analytes at CSF level and 25 analytes in peripheral blood, including 13 unidentified miRNAs. Pathway enrichment revealed these changes were associated with an overrepresentation of insulin signalling, platelet degranulation and hemostasis in peripheral blood and with growth factor signalling at CSF levels.ConclusionThese results demonstrate the ability of this approach to uncover metabolic changes in patients undergoing a Ginkgo treatment. In further steps, we will perform enrichment analysis in CSF samples and build multivariate models accounting for potential confounders and a multi‐omics model, to assess the interactions between different biological pathways and levels; these approaches will require the recruitment of additional participants for the gingko group. This will also allow targeted omics approaches to further explore these alterations and relate them with the clinical evolution of participants over time, including cognitive decline and non‐cognitive symptoms at follow‐up visits.