Full profile
| Also known as | Ginkgo, EGb 761, Standardized ginkgo leaf extract |
|---|---|
| Best for | Circulation support · Memory support in older adults · Steady-state stimulant-free cognitive support |
| Evidence grade | Grade C — Limited — early or small human trials |
| Studied dose range | 120–240 mg/day of leaf extract standardized to 22–27% flavonoid glycosides and 5–7% terpene lactones, with ginkgolic acids ≤5 ppm. |
| Time to effect | Primarily cumulative — around 4–6 weeks; unreliable as an acute single-dose effect. |
| Best form | Standardized 50:1 leaf extract; EGb 761 is the most-studied material. |
Evidence, honestly graded
Controlled trials in healthy adults are mixed and reviews generally find it no better than placebo for enhancement, while large prevention trials (GEM 2009; GuidAge 2012) were negative; evidence is more consistent for symptomatic mild cognitive impairment at 240 mg/day. Graded C for a healthy-adult use case.
See the full grading rubric — study type, replication, population match, and dose adequacy — in The Evidence Standard.
Side effects
- Generally mild — headache, GI upset, dizziness
- Rare bleeding events
Who should avoid it or check first
- 1–2 weeks before surgery
- Pregnant or breastfeeding without advice
- Seizure disorders
Interactions
- May add to bleeding risk with anticoagulants and antiplatelets (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel) — discuss with a clinician
Stacks well with
- Citicoline
- Phosphatidylserine
- Bacopa Monnieri
Use caution stacking with
- Anything that raises bleeding risk without clinician guidance
What to look for on a label
- Print standardization as the monograph band or your certificate-of-analysis value plus the ≤5 ppm ginkgolic-acid limit — not "24/6" as if certified.
- Carry the monograph's pre-surgery and anticoagulant caution statements verbatim.
References
- Laws 2012, Hum Psychopharmacol — healthy-adult meta-analysis. No cognitive-enhancement benefit in healthy people. PMID 23001963; doi:10.1002/hup.2259. Educational, not a product claim.
- GEM trials (DeKosky 2008; Snitz 2009, JAMA). Ginkgo did not prevent dementia or slow cognitive decline in older adults. PMID 19017911; PMID 20040554. Anchors honest framing.
- GuidAge (Vellas 2012, Lancet Neurology). Long-term ginkgo did not reduce progression to Alzheimer's dementia. PMID 22959217; doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(12)70206-5.
Grades and studied doses are our conservative reading of the human research, shown for education. They are not product claims, and a studied dose is not a recommended dose.
See how Ginkgo Biloba compares on grade, dose, and goal in the Evidence Explorer.
