Ginkgo Biloba is one of the oldest plants on earth and one of the most studied plant extracts, with 82 trials in a 2026 Cochrane review. Most of that research tested one refined leaf extract, mostly in older adults with memory problems, at 240mg a day. Here's a UK-focused guide to what Ginkgo is, what has been studied, the amounts used, and how to spot a quality extract.
Key takeaways
- Ginkgo Biloba is mostly studied in older adults, mostly people with memory problems or dementia. It has no authorised health claims in the UK.
- Trials mostly used 240mg a day of a refined leaf extract (often "EGb 761", made to a fixed specification of roughly 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones).
- Raw leaf powder is a different material, far less concentrated than refined extract. Look for "EGb 761" or specific flavone/terpene percentages.
- Most trials were in older adults; studies in healthy adults are fewer.
- Some people should not take it. Bleeding is on the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) side-effect list, so with blood thinners, epilepsy or an operation coming up, speak to your doctor first. Our Ashwagandha Gummies are not for use in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, or by under-18s or anyone allergic to mushrooms (they contain lion's mane), ginkgo or any other ingredient. With a thyroid, liver, heart or autoimmune condition, high androgen levels, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, epilepsy, a bleeding disorder, an operation coming up or another long-term condition, or on any regular medicine, including thyroid medication, sedatives and blood thinners, ask your GP or pharmacist first.
What Ginkgo Biloba actually is
Ginkgo Biloba is a tree species so old it's sometimes called a "living fossil", its lineage dates back over 200 million years. The supplement uses the dried leaves, which contain two main classes of bioactive compounds:
- Flavone glycosides (mainly quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin glycosides): flavonoid plant compounds that account for ~24% of standardised extracts.
- Terpene lactones (ginkgolides A, B, C and bilobalide): unique to Ginkgo. Account for ~6% of standardised extracts. Studied in the lab for their action on platelet-activating factor, which is involved in blood clotting.
The standardised extract used in nearly all major research is called EGb 761, a 50:1 concentration ratio (50 g of leaves to make 1 g of extract). Other extracts are made differently and use different amounts of leaf per gram, so a label should say what its extract is standardised for.
What the research has looked at
Older adults
A 2026 Cochrane review found 82 trials with 10,613 people, mostly people with memory problems or dementia taking a refined extract. The largest single trial, GEM (USA, 2008), gave 3,069 adults aged 75 or over 240mg a day or a placebo for a median of 6.1 years, funded by the US National Institutes of Health. None tested our gummies, and we found no human study of ginkgo combined with ashwagandha or lion's mane.
Blood clotting and bleeding
Lab studies of ginkgolide B are where ginkgo's "blood-thinning" reputation comes from. In people, a 2011 German review of 18 trials (1,985 adults) found no meaningful change in standard clotting tests, yet the EMA lists bleeding in the eye, nose, brain or gut as a side effect of ginkgo leaf medicines, at an unknown frequency.
Healthy adults
Studies in healthy adults are fewer. A 2012 UK review pooled randomised trials in healthy people, with memory tests in 1,132 participants and attention tests in 910. The trials used different products and amounts, and its abstract does not state funding.
What Ginkgo is NOT
- An acute cognitive stimulant. It has no authorised health claims in the UK, and we make no claim for it.
- A treatment for dementia or Alzheimer's. Food supplements are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.
- A drop-in replacement for caffeine. Ginkgo leaf contains no caffeine, so if caffeine is what you're after, Ginkgo isn't it.
The amounts studied
Most trials used 120 to 240 mg per day of a refined leaf extract:
- 120 mg/day: used in some trials, including a 1997 US dementia trial
- 240 mg/day: the most common amount in older-adult trials and the EMA's adult daily amount for refined-extract medicines; often split into 120 mg twice daily
Our Healthier Options Ashwagandha and Lion's Mane Gummies contain 1,000mg of ginkgo biloba per two gummies, with 2,500mg of KSM-66 ashwagandha and 1,000mg of lion's mane fruiting body. Take two a day and no more. Ginkgo extracts are not all made the same way: the EMA's 240mg is for a refined extract made to a fixed specification for medicines, and other extracts use different amounts of leaf per gram, so a weight on its own cannot tell you how one product compares with another. No trial has used our gummies. The EMA's cautions for ginkgo medicines, below, apply to our gummies too.
How to spot a quality Ginkgo extract
- Look for "standardised to 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones", or the proprietary "EGb 761" code.
- Avoid "Ginkgo leaf powder" or "raw Ginkgo extract" with no standardisation specification. Without one, you cannot tell how it compares with the extracts used in trials.
- Check the milligram dose per serving. 60 mg of true standardised extract is meaningfully different from 60 mg of raw leaf powder.
- Buy from brands with third-party testing. Ginkgo has historically been adulterated with rutin (a cheaper flavonoid). Quality brands publish CoAs.
What Ginkgo is often paired with
- Lion's Mane: an edible mushroom eaten in East Asia for centuries. See our Lion's Mane research guide.
- KSM-66 Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is traditionally used to support a calm, balanced response to everyday stress. See our KSM-66 deep-dive.
- L-theanine (Suntheanine): an amino acid found in tea leaves. It is in our Saffron Gummies, not our Ashwagandha Gummies. See our L-theanine guide.
- Magnesium and vitamins B6 and B12: they contribute to normal psychological function and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Two of our Ashwagandha gummies give 200mg of magnesium, 1.6mg of B6 and 90 micrograms of B12.
Timing and adherence
There is no research-based "best time of day" for Ginkgo. Most of our customers take our gummies with breakfast, and because the botanicals are not stimulants, they can equally be taken in the evening.
If you take a separate Ginkgo product at 240 mg/day, trials often split that into two 120 mg doses. Our gummies are one daily serving of two: take no more than two a day.
Common questions
Can I take Ginkgo before exams or performance?
Ginkgo has no authorised health claims in the UK, and we make no claim that it helps with exams or performance. Most Ginkgo trials were in older adults, and none tested our gummies. Ginkgo is not for anyone under 18, and anyone with epilepsy should speak to a doctor first.
Are there safety concerns with Ginkgo?
Yes. For ginkgo leaf medicines, the European Medicines Agency lists headache, dizziness and stomach upset, and records bleeding and allergic reactions, including allergic shock, at an unknown frequency.
- Do not take it if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under 18
- Tell your surgical team before any operation. The EMA advises stopping ginkgo medicines 3 to 4 days before, and your team may ask you to stop earlier
- Speak to your doctor first if you're on blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, dabigatran) or NSAIDs regularly, or have epilepsy
Our Ashwagandha Gummies are not for use in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, or by under-18s or anyone allergic to mushrooms (they contain lion's mane), ginkgo or any other ingredient. With a thyroid, liver, heart or autoimmune condition, high androgen levels, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, epilepsy, a bleeding disorder, an operation coming up or another long-term condition, or on any regular medicine, including thyroid medication, sedatives and blood thinners, ask your GP or pharmacist first. More in our ginkgo biloba side effects guide.
Will Ginkgo make me feel anything immediately?
We make no claim that you will feel anything, immediately or later. Ginkgo has no authorised health claims in the UK, it is not a stimulant, and no trial has tested our gummies.
Is Ginkgo good for circulation in legs/feet?
Ginkgo has no authorised health claim for circulation in the UK, and we make no claim for it. Leg pain when you walk, or numb or discoloured legs or feet, can be signs of a circulation problem that needs a doctor, so speak to your GP first.
If you are buying a gummy rather than a capsule, our UK gummy vitamin buyer's guide covers what to check on the label first.
References
- Le Bars PL et al. "A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba for dementia." JAMA. 1997. PubMed: 9343463.
- Tan MS et al. "Efficacy and adverse effects of Ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis." J Alzheimers Dis. 2015. PubMed: 25114079.
- Wieland LS et al. "Ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia." Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2026. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013661.pub2
- DeKosky ST et al. "Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: a randomized controlled trial." JAMA, 2008;300(19):2253-2262. doi:10.1001/jama.2008.683
- Kellermann AJ, Kloft C. "Is there a risk of bleeding associated with standardized Ginkgo biloba extract therapy? A systematic review and meta-analysis." Pharmacotherapy, 2011;31(5):490-502. doi:10.1592/phco.31.5.490
- Laws KR et al. "Is Ginkgo biloba a cognitive enhancer in healthy individuals? A meta-analysis." Hum Psychopharmacol, 2012;27(6):527-533. PubMed: 23001963.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. "European Union herbal monograph on Ginkgo biloba L., folium." EMA/HMPC/321097/2012, 28 January 2015.
Food supplements are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult a healthcare professional before use.
Last reviewed and updated November 2026. We refresh our articles every 90 days with the latest UK supplement-safety guidance, new internal links to related research, and any updates to dosing or ingredient evidence.
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