Ginkgo | Maidenhair tree
Ginkgo biloba is one of the most widely used and researched herbs for brain health. G. biloba has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for several hundred years. Standardized extracts of G. biloba have been used since the mid-1960’s. The Ginkgo biloba tree is native to China and has been called a living fossil because it is the only surviving species of the order Ginkgoales that existed on earth 190 million years ago. The trees are very long-lived, with some specimens claimed to be as much as 1,500 years old. It contains several bioactive substances, including flavonoid glycosides such as quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, and terpene lactones such as ginkgolides A, B and C, and bilobalide. Through the action of these compounds, Ginkgo is able to support several neurotransmitter systems, support neurogenesis, and promote healthy vascular function and cerebral blood flow. G. biloba is best known for supporting attention, concentration, memory and mood [1].
Ginkgo biloba extract is made from plants harvested in China and uses a 35:1 (or greater) herb to extract ratio.
Ginkgo biloba extract is standardized to contain 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones.
Ginkgo biloba Leaf Extract is non-GMO and vegan.
We consider Ginkgo biloba to be an herbal adaptogen, so expect it to follow hormetic dosing principles. Herbal adaptogens tend to have a hormetic zone (or range) where there’s a favorable biological response. It’s important to be in this zone; it’s just as important not to be above it (see Neurohacker Dosing Principles). Therefore, it’s important to identify the lowest dose that can produce the desired responses when using Ginkgo biloba. In clinical trials, standardized Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts have most commonly been used at doses ranging from 120 mg to 240 mg/day. When used in combination with other ingredients, standardized Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts have been used at lower doses, most commonly between 60 and 120 mg/day. Since we’re using a standardized Ginkgo biloba leaf extract as part of a combination of ingredients with which it may have additive effects, we chose a dose in the lower end of the doses that have been tested in combination studies.
Brain and cognitive function
Mood and stress response
Vascular health
Healthy aging and longevity
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