Ginkgo Biloba: Uses, Benefits, Dosage & Safety

Last updated: June 2026 · Reviewed by the FactoWiki Editorial Team for clarity and source accuracy

What is Ginkgo Biloba?

Ginkgo biloba is an extract from the leaves of the ginkgo tree, one of the oldest tree species on Earth. Standardized extracts — usually EGb 761, providing set amounts of flavonoids and terpene lactones — are among the world's most widely used herbal products, taken mainly for memory and circulation. It is one of the few herbs studied in large, multi-year trials, which makes its honest picture clearer than most.

What Ginkgo Biloba is commonly used for

In supplements, Ginkgo Biloba is taken mainly for memory and mental sharpness, and also for circulation, tinnitus and dizziness, appearing in brain & memory formulas. It is marketed as a memory and anti-aging aid; the large trials paint a more nuanced picture than the marketing.

How Ginkgo Biloba works

Ginkgo is thought to improve blood flow, including to the brain, to act as an antioxidant, and to protect nerve cells; laboratory work also suggests it may reduce the clumping of the amyloid protein involved in Alzheimer's. These plausible mechanisms are why it has been tested so heavily — but mechanism and proven benefit are different things, and ginkgo is a case where large trials tempered the early enthusiasm.

What the evidence says

Here's an honest snapshot of what published research suggests about Ginkgo Biloba — including where the evidence is limited.

• A meta-analysis of nine EGb 761 trials (2,372 patients) found that, in people with dementia, ginkgo was modestly favored over placebo for cognition. (PubMed)
• By contrast, a randomised trial in healthy adults aged 85 and older found ginkgo did not reduce progression to cognitive impairment or memory decline, consistent with large trials showing it does not prevent dementia. (PubMed)
• General background is summarised by reputable health references; benefits, where present, are modest and seen in dementia rather than in prevention. (MedlinePlus)

Typical dosage used in studies

Trials typically use 120–240 mg per day of standardized extract such as EGb 761, often split into two doses, for several weeks to months; effects build slowly. This is general information from research, not a recommendation.

Side effects and safety

Ginkgo is generally well tolerated, with mild headache, dizziness or stomach upset possible. The main concern is bleeding — ginkgo can thin the blood, so it should be stopped before surgery and used cautiously by people on blood thinners. Raw or roasted ginkgo seeds, which are different from leaf extract, can be toxic.

Medication interactions and who should avoid Ginkgo Biloba

Sources & further reading

The evidence summary above is drawn from these sources. For general, authoritative background you can also consult:

• PubMed-indexed study (PMID 20236541)
• PubMed-indexed study (PMID 18305231)
• MedlinePlus
• NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
• NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

Frequently asked questions

Does ginkgo improve memory?

In people who already have dementia, meta-analyses show a small benefit. In healthy people the evidence for better memory is weak, and large trials found it does not prevent decline.

Does ginkgo prevent dementia?

No — large, multi-year trials found that ginkgo did not prevent dementia or Alzheimer's in older adults.

Does ginkgo help tinnitus?

It is traditionally used for tinnitus and circulation, but the evidence here is mixed and not convincing.

Is ginkgo safe?

It is generally well tolerated, but it can thin the blood. Stop before surgery, be cautious with blood thinners, and never eat raw ginkgo seeds.

How much ginkgo is used?

Trials typically use 120–240 mg per day of standardized extract. This is general information, not a recommendation.