Evidence supporting the use of: Ginkgo Flavonglycosides
For the health condition: Schizophrenia

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Ginkgo flavonglycosides, the primary active compounds in Ginkgo biloba extracts, have been studied as adjunctive therapy in schizophrenia, primarily to address negative and cognitive symptoms that are often resistant to standard antipsychotic medications. The use is not rooted in traditional medicine for schizophrenia; rather, it is based on emerging scientific research. Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have explored Ginkgo biloba's efficacy as an add-on treatment. For example, a 2011 meta-analysis (Lu et al., J Psychiatr Res, 2011) found that adjunctive Ginkgo biloba extract significantly improved total and negative symptom scores in patients with chronic schizophrenia compared to placebo, with minimal adverse effects. The proposed mechanisms involve Ginkgo's antioxidant properties, modulation of neurotransmitter systems, and neuroprotective effects, which may help mitigate oxidative stress and neuronal dysfunction implicated in schizophrenia. However, the sample sizes in these studies are generally small, and the effect sizes are modest. Major clinical guidelines do not currently recommend Ginkgo biloba as standard therapy, but the scientific evidence, while limited, does exist and is the primary justification for its use in this context. Further large-scale, high-quality trials are needed to clarify its efficacy and safety profile.

More about Ginkgo Flavonglycosides
More about Schizophrenia

Products containing Ginkgo Flavonglycosides

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.