Full profile

Also known asGinkgo, EGb 761, Standardized ginkgo leaf extract
Best forCirculation support · Memory support in older adults · Steady-state stimulant-free cognitive support
Evidence gradeGrade C · Limited: early or small human trials
Studied dose range120–240 mg/day of leaf extract standardized to 22–27% flavonoid glycosides and 5–7% terpene lactones, with ginkgolic acids ≤5 ppm.
Time to effectPrimarily cumulative: around 4–6 weeks; unreliable as an acute single-dose effect.
Best formStandardized 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. Reviewed 2026-09-17 against a new Cochrane review (Wieland 2026; 82 studies, 10,613 participants), which changes what we can say about the mild-cognitive-impairment case: in MCI, ginkgo probably has little or no effect at six months on global status, cognition or activities of daily living (moderate-certainty evidence). In people with a dementia diagnosis it may bring small-to-moderate benefits, but that estimate is low-certainty with very high heterogeneity, and in people with subjective cognitive complaints the review found the effect uncertain and the risk of adverse events possibly higher than placebo at three months. C holds for a healthy-adult use case, now on a stronger footing.

See the full grading rubric (study type, replication, population match, and dose adequacy) in The Evidence Standard.

1,632 natural health products with an active licence in Health Canada's LNHPD list Ginkgo Biloba as a medicinal ingredient.

That makes Ginkgo Biloba a recognized, licensable medicinal ingredient in Canada, regulated by Health Canada's Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate, which issues each licensed natural health product a Natural Product Number (NPN). Search the LNHPD to verify.

Source: Health Canada Licensed Natural Health Products Database, snapshot 2026-09-28. A count of products with an active licence, not an endorsement of any health claim. This describes the ingredient's regulatory standing in Canada, not Signal State Core, which is a pre-launch concept and is not a licensed natural health product.

Side effects

  • Generally mild: headache, GI upset, dizziness
  • Rare bleeding events

The full side-effect breakdown: Ginkgo Biloba Side Effects and Who Should Be Cautious.

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

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.
  • Wieland LS, Ludeman E, Chi Y, et al. (2026). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2:CD013661Systematic review and meta-analysis, 82 studies, 10,613 participantsStudied dose: Trials pooled across the usual 120–240 mg/day rangeIn mild cognitive impairment, probably little or no effect at six months on global clinical status, cognition or activities of daily living (moderate certainty); in dementia, possible small-to-moderate benefits at low certainty with very high heterogeneity; in subjective cognitive complaints, uncertain benefit and possibly more adverse events than placebo at three months.

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.

Revision history

Every change to this ingredient's evidence status, dated and explained. The full cross-library log lives at Evidence Updates.

  • 2026-09-17Citation review

    Re-grounded this profile on the 2026 Cochrane review of 82 studies in 10,613 participants, which supersedes the older reviews cited here. In mild cognitive impairment ginkgo probably has little or no effect at six months on global status, cognition or daily function; in dementia there may be small-to-moderate benefits at low certainty with very high heterogeneity; in people with subjective cognitive complaints the effect is uncertain and adverse events may be more common than on placebo. C holds for a healthy-adult use case.

  • 2026-07-05New profile

    Initial profile published at Grade C: healthy-adult enhancement trials are mixed and large prevention trials (GEM, GuidAge) were negative; the evidence is more consistent only for symptomatic mild cognitive impairment.

See how Ginkgo Biloba compares on grade, dose, and goal in the Evidence Explorer.