Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba is the most commonly ingested herb for brain health. While it may boost cognition in older populations, this effect is not very reliable or generalizable.

Quick Answer

What it is

Ginkgo biloba is the most commonly ingested herb for brain health. While it may boost cognition in older populations, this effect is not very reliable or generalizable.

Key findings

  • Grade B: Acute Mountain Sickness Symptoms (Acute Mountain Sickness)
  • Grade C: Blood Flow (High Blood Pressure)
  • Grade C: Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile (Diabetic Nephropathy)

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: Ginkgo Biloba

Quick Facts: Ginkgo Biloba

  • Best Evidence:Grade B
  • Conditions Studied:45
  • Research Outcomes:173
  • Grade B Findings:1
  • Key Effect:Dementia
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B1
C17
D12
45 conditions · 173 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
B
Acute Mountain Sickness Symptoms
Moderate Improvement
moderateImproves
?
Blood Pressure
Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
1 study
Improves
C
Blood Flow
Mixed effect
?
Blood Pressure
Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
Improves
C
Blood Flow
Mixed effect
?
Skin Dryness
1 study
Improves
?
Skin Quality
1 study
Improves
?
Wrinkles
Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Mixed effect
2 studies
?
Kidney Function
37 studies
Improves
?
Blood Urea Nitrogen
30 studies
Improves
?
Urinary Albumin
Improves
?
Blood glucose
23 studies
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
15 studies
Improves
?
Triglycerides
15 studies
Improves
?
Proteinuria
12 studies
Improves
?
Blood Pressure
Improves
?
Fibrinogen
5 studies
Improves
?
HbA1c
5 studies
Improves
?
Hematocrit
4 studies
Improves
?
Interleukin 6
3 studies
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
3 studies
Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
2 studies
Improves
?
Cystatin C
1 study
Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
Improves
C
Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms
Small Improvement
1 study
smallImproves
D
Attention
No effect
none
?
Cognition
Improves
?
Memory
Improves
?
Cerebral Blood Flow
Improves
?
Cognitive Decline
Improves
?
Processing Accuracy
2 studies
Improves
?
Processing Speed
Improves
?
Blood Flow
Improves
?
Numerical Memory
1 study
Improves
?
Reaction Time
Improves
?
Verbal Fluency
1 study
Improves
?
Working Memory
1 study
Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Mixed effect
1 study
?
Schizophrenia symptoms
Improves
?
Serum BDNF
1 study
Improves
?
Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms
Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Mixed effect
1 study
?
Apolipoprotein A
1 study
Improves
?
Atherosclerotic Signs
Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
1 study
Improves
?
Heart Attack Risk
1 study
Worsens
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
Improves
?
LDL Oxidation
1 study
Improves
?
Microcirculation
Improves
?
Myeloperoxidase
1 study
Improves
?
Nitric Oxide
Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
1 study
Improves
?
Peripheral Vascular Disease Risk
Worsens
?
Stroke Risk
1 study
Worsens
C
Blood Flow
Mixed effect
?
Blood Pressure
Improves
?
Heart Rate
2 studies
Improves
?
Cortisol
Improves
?
Memory
Improves
?
Stress Signs and Symptoms
1 study
Improves
C
Microcirculation
Small Improvement
smallImproves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
1 study
Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Mixed effect
1 study
?
Apolipoprotein A
1 study
Improves
?
Atherosclerotic Signs
Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
1 study
Improves
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
Improves
?
LDL Oxidation
1 study
Improves
?
Myeloperoxidase
1 study
Improves
?
Nitric Oxide
Improves
C
Blood Flow
Mixed effect
?
Blood glucose
1 study
Improves
?
Kidney Function
1 study
Improves
?
Nitric Oxide
Improves
?
Proteinuria
1 study
Improves
C
Blood Flow
Mixed effect
?
Blood glucose
1 study
Improves
?
Kidney Function
1 study
Improves
?
Nitric Oxide
Improves
?
Proteinuria
1 study
Improves
C
Cognition
Small Improvement
smallImproves
?
Memory
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
C
Microcirculation
Small Improvement
smallImproves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
1 study
Improves
C
Memory
Small Improvement
smallImproves
?
Numerical Memory
1 study
Improves
?
Processing Speed
Improves
?
Reaction Time
Improves
C
Serum BDNF
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
?
Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms
Improves
C
Cerebral Blood Flow
Small Increase
smallImproves
?
Cognitive Decline
Improves
?
Memory
Improves
C
Cognition
Small Improvement
smallImproves
D
Attention
No effect
none
?
Cognitive Decline
Worsens
?
Memory
Improves
?
Reaction Time
Improves
?
Working Memory
1 study
Improves
D
Alzheimer's Disease Risk
No effect
none
?
Cognitive Decline
Improves
?
Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms
4 studies
Improves
?
Memory
Improves
?
Cerebral Blood Flow
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
?
Tinnitus Symptoms
Improves
D
Blood Pressure
No effect
none
?
Heart Rate
3 studies
Improves
?
Intraocular Pressure
Improves
?
Ocular Blood Flow
Improves
?
Visual acuity (VA)
1 study
Improves
D
Alzheimer's Disease Risk
No effect
none
?
Cognitive Decline
Improves
?
Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms
2 studies
Improves
?
Cognition
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
?
Tinnitus Symptoms
Improves
?
Verbal Fluency
1 study
Improves
D
Attention
No effect
none
?
Cognitive Decline
Improves
?
Memory
Improves
?
Cognition
Improves
?
Reaction Time
Improves
?
Working Memory
1 study
Improves
D
Apolipoprotein B
No effect
1 study
none
?
Intermittent Claudication Symptoms
Improves
?
Blood Flow
Improves
?
LDL Oxidation
1 study
Improves
D
Libido
No effect
none
?
Sleep Quality
Improves
D
Depression Symptoms
No effect
1 study
none
?
Libido
Improves
D
Depression Symptoms
No effect
1 study
none
?
Libido
Improves
D
Attention
No effect
none
?
Cognition
Improves
?
Memory
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
?
Verbal Fluency
1 study
Improves
?
Working Memory
1 study
Improves
D
Alzheimer's Disease Risk
No effect
none
?
Cognitive Decline
Worsens
?
Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms
2 studies
Worsens
?
Cognition
Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
Improves
?
Tinnitus Symptoms
Worsens
?
Verbal Fluency
1 study
Improves
?
Intermittent Claudication Symptoms
Improves
?
Stroke Recovery
Improves
?
Tinnitus Symptoms
Improves
?
Autism Symptoms
Improves
?
Raynaud's Phenomenon Symptoms
Improves
?
Libido
Improves
?
Vitiligo Symptoms
Improves
?
6-Minute Walking Test Performance
Improves
?
ADHD Symptoms
Improves
?
Ocular Blood Flow
Improves
?
Sleep Quality
Improves
?
PMS Symptoms
Improves
?
Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
Improves
?
PMS Symptoms
Improves
?
Anxiety Symptoms
Improves
?
Libido
Improves
?
Breast Cancer Risk
Small Detriment
1 study
small
?
Overall Cancer Risk
Worsens
?
Anxiety Symptoms
Improves
?
Intermittent Claudication Symptoms
Improves
?
Sleep Quality
Improves

Evidence by Condition

Best grade per condition (each condition may have multiple outcomes)

BDementia
2
Alzheimer's Disease RiskCognitive DeclineImprovesAlzheimer's Disease SymptomsImproves
BAcute Mountain Sickness
1
Acute Mountain Sickness SymptomsImprovesBlood PressureImprovesHeart RateImproves
BVitiligo
1
Vitiligo SymptomsImproves
BIntermittent Claudication
1
Intermittent Claudication SymptomsImproves
CAge-Associated Memory Impairment and Cognitive Decline (AAMCD)
2
CognitionImprovesAttentionCognitive DeclineWorsens
CCognitive Improvement
1
Alzheimer's Disease SymptomsImprovesAttentionCognitionImproves
CSchizophrenia
1
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileSchizophrenia symptomsImprovesSerum BDNFImproves
CHigh Blood Pressure
1
Blood FlowBlood PressureImprovesHeart RateImproves
CCardiovascular Disease
1
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileApolipoprotein AImprovesAtherosclerotic SignsImproves
CSkin Health
1
Blood FlowSkin DrynessImprovesSkin QualityImproves
CAtherosclerosis
1
MicrocirculationImprovesOxidative Stress BiomarkersImproves
CCoronary Artery Disease (CAD)
1
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileApolipoprotein AImprovesAtherosclerotic SignsImproves
CType 2 Diabetes
1
Blood FlowBlood glucoseImprovesKidney FunctionImproves
CDiabetic Nephropathy
1
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileKidney FunctionImprovesBlood Urea NitrogenImproves
CDiabetic Neuropathy
1
Blood FlowBlood glucoseImprovesKidney FunctionImproves
CMemory Improvement
1
CognitionImprovesMemoryImprovesSubjective Well-BeingImproves
CMicroangiopathy
1
MicrocirculationImprovesOxidative Stress BiomarkersImproves
CMood Improvement
1
MemoryImprovesNumerical MemoryImprovesProcessing SpeedImproves
CTardive Dyskinesia (TD)
1
Serum BDNFImprovesTardive Dyskinesia SymptomsImproves
CVascular Cognitive Impairment
1
Cerebral Blood FlowImprovesCognitive DeclineImprovesMemoryImproves

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