Ginkgo Biloba Supplement | Memory, Circulation & Focus
Explore our standardized Ginkgo Biloba supplement for memory, circulation, and focus. Learn about its key compounds, evidence-based benefits, and how to take it.
What Is a Ginkgo Biloba Supplement?
A Ginkgo Biloba supplement delivers a concentrated, standardized extract from the leaves of Ginkgo Biloba L.—a "living fossil" traceable back more than 200 million years and the only surviving member of the family Ginkgoaceae. The medicinal use of Ginkgo Biloba is recorded as far back as 2800 BC in Chinese writings, where ancient healers tapped into the power of the tree's seeds and leaves for an array of health advantages.
Today, phytopharmaceutical extracts from ginkgo leaves belong to the most commonly used herbal medicines worldwide and are the subject of many scientific studies. Ginkgo Biloba acts to increase blood flow throughout the body and is used to support memory, circulation, and focus and concentration. Early evidence, while inconclusive, shows great promise for Ginkgo Biloba to support memory in healthy subjects.
Because of the wide variation of ginkgo products on the market, it is important that the Ginkgo Biloba you use is standardized so you are sure to get maximum quality and potency. This Ginkgo Biloba supplement is made under strict European quality standards—comparable to over-the-counter drug standards in the United States—providing optimal levels of naturally occurring flavonglycosides and terpene lactones.
The Science Behind Ginkgo Biloba
The most commonly described mechanisms of action of ginkgo include antioxidant and free-radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory activity, cerebral glucose utilization enhancement, reduced platelet aggregation, neurotransmitter regulation, and vasomotor effects.
Antioxidant Protection
The antioxidant activity of ginkgo leaves has been established as one possible mechanism for numerous pharmacological effects. This includes protection of neuronal and cardiovascular cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cell damage. This Ginkgo Biloba supplement serves as a very powerful antioxidant, especially important for the brain, retina, and cardiovascular system.
Circulation and Blood Flow
Research suggests that Ginkgo Biloba improves perfusion in different vascular beds without significantly affecting blood pressure and heart rate. Multiple RCTs in patients with coronary artery disease and healthy elderly adults have demonstrated increased blood flow and improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Ginkgolide B, a terpene trilactone found in ginkgo, is the most potent known naturally occurring inhibitor of platelet-activating factor (PAF)—a key mediator of its anti-aggregatory and circulatory effects.
Neurotransmitter Modulation and Neuroprotection
Studies suggest that chronic treatment with ginkgo extract significantly increased extracellular dopamine and noradrenaline levels in the prefrontal cortex in animal models, with the increase in dopamine levels mostly caused by the flavonol glycoside and ginkgolide fractions. Ingredients of ginkgo leaves also exert appreciable blood-brain barrier–crossing efficacy and neuroprotective efficacy, with direct effects against necrosis and apoptosis of neurons and improvements in neural plasticity.
Key Ingredients
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Who Is a Ginkgo Biloba Supplement For?
This Ginkgo Biloba supplement may be a good fit for adults looking to support several aspects of their well-being:
- Those seeking memory support: Research suggests Ginkgo Biloba may support memory and cognitive function, particularly in adults experiencing age-related cognitive changes. Multiple meta-analyses have shown improvements in cognition in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.
- Those wanting to promote healthy circulation: Studies suggest ginkgo supports blood flow across multiple vascular beds, including cerebral, coronary, and peripheral circulation. Its platelet-activating factor antagonism and vasodilatory properties may promote healthy microcirculation.
- Those looking for focus and concentration support: Ginkgo Biloba leaf extract is among the most studied herbal nootropics, with RCTs and meta-analyses demonstrating improvements in attention and processing speed.
- Those seeking antioxidant protection: Ginkgo's flavonol glycosides are potent free-radical scavengers, providing antioxidant activity that is especially important for the brain, retina, and cardiovascular system.
This product is gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and grain free, making it accessible to individuals with common dietary sensitivities.
Important note: Ginkgo may be unsafe for use during pregnancy—it might cause early labor or extra bleeding during delivery if used near that time. Little is known about whether it is safe to use ginkgo while breastfeeding. Individuals taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs such as warfarin should consult a healthcare professional, as ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding when combined with these medications.
How to Take This Ginkgo Biloba Supplement
Take one (1) vegetarian capsule, two (2) times daily with meals.
Each capsule contains 120 mg of standardized Ginkgo Biloba leaf extract in a 50:1 concentrate, providing optimal levels of naturally occurring flavonglycosides and terpene lactones. This extract has been standardized under strict European guidelines to ensure maximum quality and potency.
It is worth noting that in clinical research, an overview of systematic reviews found that efficacy in cognitive outcomes was convincingly demonstrated when a daily dose of 240 mg was applied—the amount provided by the full two-capsule daily serving of this Ginkgo Biloba supplement.
Written by Greg Howlett
Frequently asked questions
What makes a standardized Ginkgo Biloba supplement different from non-standardized forms?
A standardized Ginkgo Biloba supplement is manufactured to contain consistent, defined levels of active compounds. The European Pharmacopoeia requires 22.0%–27.0% ginkgo flavone glycosides and 5.4%–6.6% terpene lactones, with less than 5 parts per million of ginkgolic acids. Even two high-quality extracts complying with the same guideline can vary — for instance, 22% versus 27% flavone glycosides represents a nearly 23% difference. This product is standardized under strict European quality standards, comparable to over-the-counter drug standards in the United States, to help ensure maximum quality and potency.
What does the research say about Ginkgo Biloba and memory?
Research on Ginkgo Biloba and memory is extensive but mixed. The large GEM trial (n=3,069 adults aged 75+) found that 120 mg twice daily was not effective in reducing dementia incidence in elderly individuals with normal cognition. However, a 2020 meta-analysis of 7 RCTs involving 939 patients with Alzheimer's disease found that those given Ginkgo Biloba extract had some improvement in cognitive function. An overview of ten systematic reviews concluded that there is clear evidence supporting efficacy of ginkgo in mild cognitive impairment and existing dementia, with efficacy convincingly demonstrated at a daily dose of 240 mg.
What are the main active compounds in Ginkgo Biloba?
The two pharmacologically defining compound classes are flavonol glycosides and terpene trilactones. The flavonol glycosides — primarily glycosides of quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin — are potent antioxidants and free-radical scavengers. The terpene trilactones include ginkgolides A, B, C, J, and M, and the sesquiterpene bilobalide. Ginkgolide B is the most potent known naturally occurring inhibitor of platelet-activating factor. These terpene compounds have been described in the literature to be bioavailable by up to 70–80%, enabling them to reach the central nervous system.
Are there any safety concerns with Ginkgo Biloba supplements?
In general, Ginkgo Biloba is safe and well-tolerated. In systematic review data, overall adverse events and serious adverse events were at the same level as placebo. Common mild adverse effects may include gastrointestinal upset, headaches, and dizziness. However, ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding in people taking anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, and ginkgo may be unsafe during pregnancy as it might cause early labor or extra bleeding during delivery. Concomitant use with efavirenz is not recommended. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement.
How does Ginkgo Biloba support circulation?
Research suggests Ginkgo Biloba improves blood flow through several mechanisms: vasorelaxation via nitric oxide and prostanoid release, platelet-activating factor receptor antagonism by ginkgolides, and improvements in blood rheology and microcirculation. Multiple RCTs have demonstrated increased blood flow across coronary, cerebral, cutaneous, and peripheral vascular beds. Ginkgo Biloba improves perfusion without significantly affecting blood pressure and heart rate, and displays an acceptable safety profile.
Is this Ginkgo Biloba supplement suitable for people with dietary restrictions?
Yes. This Ginkgo Biloba supplement is gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and grain free, and comes in vegetarian capsules, making it accessible for people with many common dietary sensitivities and preferences.
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