Ginkgo Biloba
Standardised ginkgo biloba extract in tablets and capsules, plus blends with B vitamins. We explain what a 50:1 extract means, why the 24 and 6 percent standardisation matters, and who is better off skipping ginkgo.Read more →
Filters
Availability
Brand
Form
Diet
Goal
Price
What standardised ginkgo biloba extract actually contains
Ginkgo comes from the fan-shaped leaves of the ginkgo tree. Nearly every product here uses an extract of those leaves, not the dried leaf itself. The extract is concentrated, so one small tablet carries what would otherwise be several grams of leaf. It is one of the most-bought botanicals in our herbs and plants range.
What the numbers on a ginkgo label mean
Most UK products print 6000mg on the front. That is not the amount inside the tablet. It describes a 50:1 extract: 120 mg of extract made from 6000 mg of leaf. The figure that tells you more is the standardisation. A serious extract states 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones, the two groups of plant compounds that all the research is built on. Without those percentages, you cannot know what you are taking.
One more figure matters: ginkgolic acid. This compound occurs naturally in the leaf and can irritate, so pharmacopoeia-grade extracts keep it below 5 parts per million. Loose leaf and home-brewed ginkgo tea have no such control. That is why we do not stock them.
No approved claim, so no promises
Ginkgo has no authorised EU health claim. Claims for plant ingredients were put on hold years ago and were never assessed, so we cannot tell you what ginkgo does, and we will not guess. What we can give you is context. The European Medicines Agency describes standardised ginkgo dry extract in licensed herbal medicines, used for at least eight weeks. Food supplements are a different legal category, but that timescale is a useful reality check: judge ginkgo after two months of daily use, not after a week. Most people buy it with goals around memory and concentration in mind.
How we choose ginkgo at BONO
We stock standardised leaf extract and skip unstandardised leaf powder, because only a standardised extract tells you how much flavone glycoside and terpene lactone you get each day. We prefer products that state their ginkgolic acid limit. On dosage we look for one clear daily amount, not herbal blends where ginkgo is a footnote. A combination only earns a place when the added nutrient carries an approved claim of its own, such as vitamin B5 or iodine. Every product passes our compliance team, and we buy directly from the brands. Read how we select brands and products.
Who it suits, and who should leave it alone
Ginkgo can affect blood clotting, and that shapes who should use it. UK labels are consistent on this:
- Not during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Not alongside anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, including aspirin, unless your GP agrees.
- Stop at least two weeks before surgery or a dental procedure.
- Not intended for children.
For everyone else it is a simple daily botanical: one tablet with food, kept up for a couple of months. Headache and mild stomach upset are the effects people report most often, usually in the first weeks, which is exactly why time-release tablets exist. If you are comparing traditional botanicals, many shoppers also look at ginseng from the same category before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
What is ginkgo biloba?
Ginkgo biloba is a tree with fan-shaped leaves, also called the maidenhair tree. Supplements use its leaves, usually as a concentrated extract rather than as dried leaf. The two groups of compounds that make ginkgo interesting are flavone glycosides and terpene lactones, and quality extracts guarantee fixed levels of both. Ginkgo has been used traditionally for centuries, but in the EU there is no authorised health claim for it, so we describe what is in the extract instead of what it promises.
Why does the label say 6000mg when the tablet is much smaller?
Because 6000mg refers to leaf equivalence, not tablet content. A 50:1 extract means 50 parts of leaf are concentrated into 1 part of extract, so 120 mg of extract corresponds to 6000 mg of leaf. This is the standard strength across UK products, which makes the front label a poor way to compare. Look instead at the extract amount in milligrams and at the standardisation percentages, which tell you the actual compound content per day.
Which form of ginkgo should I choose?
Almost all forms use the same standardised extract, so the choice is about tolerance and convenience rather than strength.
| Form | What it means | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Standardised tablet | Fixed extract, one a day | Simple daily routine |
| Standardised capsule | Same extract, no tablet coating | Fewer added agents |
| Time-release tablet | Released over a few hours | Sensitive stomach, headaches |
| With B vitamins or iodine | Added nutrients with approved claims | A broader daily supplement |
| Leaf powder or tea | Not concentrated, content varies | Not stocked by us |
How long should I take ginkgo before deciding whether it suits me?
Give it a couple of months of consistent daily use. The European Medicines Agency describes licensed herbal ginkgo medicines as being used for at least eight weeks, and that timescale is the most honest guide we can give for supplements too. Ginkgo is not a same-day product, so a two-week trial tells you very little. Buy a pack size that covers eight to twelve weeks, take it at the same moment each day, and then judge it.
When is the best time to take it, and can I combine it with other botanicals?
Take it with or just after a meal. Most UK labels advise one tablet daily after food, which reduces the mild stomach upset some people notice at the start. The time of day matters less than doing it consistently. Combining ginkgo with other plant ingredients is common, and people often compare it with adaptogens such as rhodiola rosea. Keep it to one new product at a time, so you can tell what does what.
Who should avoid ginkgo biloba?
Ginkgo can influence blood clotting, so it is not for everyone. Avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and do not take it with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication such as warfarin or aspirin unless your GP has approved it. Stop at least two weeks before planned surgery or a dental procedure. It is not intended for children. If you have a seizure disorder or take prescription medicines of any kind, speak to your GP or pharmacist first.
What is ginkgolic acid, and why do good extracts limit it?
Ginkgolic acid is a compound that occurs naturally in ginkgo leaf and can cause irritation and allergic skin reactions. It has no role in why people take ginkgo, so the extraction process removes almost all of it. Pharmacopoeia-grade extracts are held below 5 parts per million, and some brands state below 1 ppm on the label. Home-made ginkgo tea or raw leaf powder offers no such control, which is the main reason we only carry standardised extracts.
What is the difference between a ginkgo food supplement and a licensed herbal medicine?
They are two legal categories. A licensed herbal medicine is assessed before it reaches the market and may state a medicinal use; a food supplement may not. The European Medicines Agency herbal committee sets out the preparation and amounts for the medicinal route, shown below as reference information rather than as advice for you.
| Item | EMA herbal monograph |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Dry extract, DER 35-67:1 |
| Extraction solvent | Acetone 60% |
| Daily amount | 120 to 240 mg, divided |
| Minimum duration | At least 8 weeks |
Source: European Medicines Agency
