Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba extract contains a group of terpene lactones (notably, ginkgolides and diterpenes) and ginkgo flavone glycosides (notably, ginkgetin, bilobetin, and sciadopitysin) that have antioxidant and vasoactive properties. Most of the studies that investigate the effect of ginkgo biloba use the standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) 761 (EGb761), which was developed by a German pharmaceutical company in 1964. EGb761 contains 6% terpene lactones and 24% flavonoid glycosides. Flavonoids include quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin. Lactones include ginkgolide A, ginkgolide B, ginkgolide C, bilobalide, and ginkgotoxin, a lactone that is structurally related to pyridoxine. Ginkgo biloba is an herbal plant that is now cultivated worldwide. It is originally native to China, and ginkgo biloba extract has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.

After its nootropic properties were discovered, ginkgo biloba has gained attention as a therapeutic ingredient for memory and concentration enhancement in cognitive impairment and neurogenerative diseases, such as dementia. Ginkgo biloba was investigated in preliminary studies for a variety of therapeutic purposes such as improving cardiovascular health, sexual dysfunction, psychiatric disorders, skin disorders, and glaucoma. Ginkgo biloba is found in a number of homeopathic and over-the-counter herbal products and dietary supplements, but it has no approved therapeutic indications by regulatory bodies, such as the FDA, EMA, and Health Canada. Ginkgo folium, the leaf extract of Ginkgo biloba, is considered an anti-dementia drug by the World Health Organization.

Ginkgo biloba does not currently have any approved therapeutic indications, and there is insufficient evidence to support its unapproved use. It is available in over-the-counter herbal products mostly for oral use, to improve memory and cognitive problems.