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Ginkgo

By

Laura Shane-McWhorter

, PharmD, University of Utah College of Pharmacy

Reviewed/Revised Jan 2023
View PATIENT EDUCATION

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is prepared from leaves of the ginkgo tree (commonly planted in the US for ornamental purposes and botanically unique as it is the only surviving member of its family). Active ingredients are believed to be terpene ginkgolides and flavonoids.

The fruit of the gingko tree, which is quite malodorous, is not used in ginkgo products. Contact with the fruit pulp, which may be present under female ginkgo trees, can cause severe skin inflammation (dermatitis). The raw seeds of the fruit are toxic and can cause seizures and, in large amounts, death. Cooked ginkgo seeds are eaten in Asia and are available in Asian food shops in the US; because the seeds do not contain ginkgolides and flavonoids, they do not have known therapeutic effects.

Claims

Ginkgo leaf products are used for minor symptomatic relief of claudication, although exercise and cilostazol may be more effective. Gingko increases the distance that affected people can walk without pain.

Ginkgo has long been used in people with dementia. Gingko has also been used to alleviate memory loss, tinnitus, age-related macular degeneration, and altitude sickness. Gingko may prevent damage to the kidneys caused by the immunosuppressant cyclosporine. Gingko has also been used for acute mountain sickness and as an adjunct to treat type 2 diabetes.

Evidence

Ginkgo is thought to be a vasoactive agent. Although patients with intermittent claudication may be able to walk longer than placebo-treated patients, this benefit is quite minor according to a 2013 Cochrane review. This review looked at 14 trials with a total of 739 participants, of which 11 trials (477 participants) compared Ginkgo biloba to placebo (1 References Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is prepared from leaves of the ginkgo tree (commonly planted in the US for ornamental purposes and botanically unique as it is the only surviving member of its... read more ).

Early studies indicated that ginkgo temporarily stabilized mental and social function in people with mild-to-moderate dementia. However, recent large clinical trials showed that ginkgo supplementation (EGb 761) did not delay the development and progression of dementia and Alzheimer disease in older people (2-4 References Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is prepared from leaves of the ginkgo tree (commonly planted in the US for ornamental purposes and botanically unique as it is the only surviving member of its... read more ). A 2017 overview of 12 systematic reviews (59 randomized controlled trials) of ginkgo with low to moderate evidence reported that, when used at daily doses higher than 200 mg and for ≥ 5 months to treat dementia, cognitive performance, activities of daily living, and clinical global impression improved (5 References Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is prepared from leaves of the ginkgo tree (commonly planted in the US for ornamental purposes and botanically unique as it is the only surviving member of its... read more ). Further studies are warranted with regard to the clinical use of this supplement for dementia.

A 2013 Cochrane review (6 References Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is prepared from leaves of the ginkgo tree (commonly planted in the US for ornamental purposes and botanically unique as it is the only surviving member of its... read more ) of 2 studies suggested a potential role for ginkgo in slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration. A standard ginkgo extract compared to placebo was used in both studies, in which 119 people took the supplement for 6 months. Future large-scale trials for longer periods of time are warranted before claims are supported.

Earlier evidence suggested ginkgo may relieve tinnitus, but a Cochrane review of 4 studies (1543 subjects) shows that it is not helpful when tinnitus is the primary ailment (7 References Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is prepared from leaves of the ginkgo tree (commonly planted in the US for ornamental purposes and botanically unique as it is the only surviving member of its... read more ). A systematic review and meta-analysis of ginkgo for acute mountain sickness prevention found a benefit trend, but data were insufficient to demonstrate a significant preventive effect (8 References Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is prepared from leaves of the ginkgo tree (commonly planted in the US for ornamental purposes and botanically unique as it is the only surviving member of its... read more ). Emerging evidence reports benefit of ginkgo in treatment of type 2 diabetes. When combined with metformin, ginkgo significantly decreased fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1C (9 References Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is prepared from leaves of the ginkgo tree (commonly planted in the US for ornamental purposes and botanically unique as it is the only surviving member of its... read more ).

Adverse Effects

Nausea, dyspepsia, headache, dizziness, and heart palpitations may occur. It should not be used by pregnant women because it may lead to early labor or excessive bleeding during childbirth. Gingko also should be stopped at least 2 weeks before surgery because of the potential for excessive bleeding.

Drug Interactions

Ginkgo may interact with aspirin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and warfarin; it also may reduce the efficacy of antiseizure medications. Ginkgo may precipitate serotonin syndrome in patients on other antidepressant medications (10 References Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is prepared from leaves of the ginkgo tree (commonly planted in the US for ornamental purposes and botanically unique as it is the only surviving member of its... read more ). (See also table .)

References

More Information

The following English-language resource may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of this resource.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Drug Name Select Trade
No brand name available
Pletal
Cequa, Gengraf , Klarity-C, Neoral, Restasis, Sandimmune, SangCya, Verkazia, Vevye
Fortamet, Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Riomet, RIOMET ER
Anacin Adult Low Strength, Aspergum, Aspir-Low, Aspirtab , Aspir-Trin , Bayer Advanced Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin Extra Strength, Bayer Aspirin Plus, Bayer Aspirin Regimen, Bayer Children's Aspirin, Bayer Extra Strength, Bayer Extra Strength Plus, Bayer Genuine Aspirin, Bayer Low Dose Aspirin Regimen, Bayer Womens Aspirin , BeneHealth Aspirin, Bufferin, Bufferin Extra Strength, Bufferin Low Dose, DURLAZA, Easprin , Ecotrin, Ecotrin Low Strength, Genacote, Halfprin, MiniPrin, St. Joseph Adult Low Strength, St. Joseph Aspirin, VAZALORE, Zero Order Release Aspirin, ZORprin
Coumadin, Jantoven
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