Ginkgo biloba (Japanese maidenhair tree) – what is it used for and what are its medicinal properties?

Over the centuries, humans have discovered increasingly valuable secrets of nature, including the Japanese ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), an ancient tree native to Southeast Asia. For generations, the raw materials obtained from this tree have been famous for their extraordinary health properties, enabling us to take comprehensive care of our own well-being. What should you know about the effects of ginkgo biloba (Japanese maidenhair tree), and how can you use the extract obtained from this miraculous tree on a daily basis?

Basic information: Ginkgo biloba – what is it?

Ginkgo biloba (Japanese ginkgo) is considered a symbol of wisdom in Asian countries - it is a tree shrouded in legendary fame. Endowed with great resilience, it is able to survive numerous cataclysms, as evidenced by the fact that ginkgo is one of the oldest trees in the world. The secret of the tree's exceptional durability and vitality is related to its composition and properties. The seeds and leaves of the Japanese ginkgo are known for their high content of several highly active ingredients, including flavonoids. Flavonoids have strong antioxidant properties, which give ginkgo its remarkable longevity.

Ginkgo supplementation helps combat the processes that stimulate ageing at the cellular level, while protecting cognitive abilities, memory and concentration. What is more, some of the active compounds in ginkgo also have a beneficial effect on blood circulation, which is essential for the vascularisation and functioning of many organs, such as the heart and brain. For this reason, Japanese ginkgo is cultivated on a large scale, enabling the development of effective therapeutic preparations.

The ginkgo biloba tree (Japanese ginkgo) – what should we know about it?

The Japanese maidenhair tree, also known as ginkgo biloba, is the last living tree belonging to the Ginkgoaceae family. It is also the oldest species of land tree, dating back approximately 300 million years. Although the tree originates from Southeast Asia, today it is widespread throughout the world. In many Asian countries, it is a symbol of wisdom, and thanks to its numerous therapeutic properties, it has found its place in Chinese and Japanese pharmacopoeia. It is used to prepare several natural remedies for circulatory disorders and lung diseases.

Thanks to its high resistance to environmental and atmospheric factors, the Japanese ginkgo can grow in a variety of conditions. For this reason, ginkgo is now found almost all over the world, including in Poland, where it arrived in the 18th century. In addition to its distinctive therapeutic and health properties, ginkgo biloba is also valued as an original ornamental tree. It owes its success to its durability, the rich colours of its leaves and its unique appearance.

Properties of ginkgo biloba – what does ginkgo biloba help with?

According to traditional Asian medicine, ginkgo biloba leaves have many medicinal properties. The highly active ingredients of ginkgo include ginkgetol, isoginkgetol, ginkgolides, bilobalides, quercetol, rutoside, phytosterols and flavonoids. The latter have been the subject of numerous scientific studies due to their many health-promoting properties and potential health benefits. In particular, they help fight free radicals, reactive forms caused by oxidative stress.

The antioxidant properties of ginkgo biloba also give it a much broader spectrum of action, which is enhanced by the activity of other active ingredients. A number of clinical studies have shown that Japanese ginkgo has the following properties:

• Diuretic

• Antioxidant

• Anti-inflammatory

• Antispasmodic

• Antiplatelet

• Stimulates the circulatory system

• Blood vessel permeability

Ginkgo biloba – what is it useful for?

In East Asia, the fruits, flowers and leaves of ginkgo have been used as food and medicine for over two millennia. Now that we know the properties of the ginkgo biloba tree, we can highlight the most important health benefits associated with the use of raw materials obtained from the tree. So, what are the benefits of using ginkgo biloba?

• Improved brain performance and concentration – ginkgo biloba is known for its blood circulation-stimulating properties. By increasing the amount of oxygen available to the brain, it facilitates thinking, increases concentration and mental performance by supplying the organ with more blood, which is necessary for its proper functioning;

• Increased libido – it appears that ginkgo biloba increases libido by balancing the body's hormonal balance. What is more, by increasing blood circulation in the genital area, it helps both men and women achieve the desired satisfaction in the intimate sphere;

• Reduces anxiety and depression – the use of ginkgo biloba helps improve the body's ability to cope with high levels of cortisol and adrenaline, hormones produced in the body during periods of excessive stress. In this way, people suffering from anxiety disorders and depressive episodes can derive noticeable benefits from consuming the plant;

• Promotes eye health – due to its ability to improve blood circulation and eliminate free radicals from the body, ginkgo appears to prevent damage to sensitive centres in the eye, such as the cornea, macula and retina;

• Blood pressure regulation – ginkgo biloba causes a slight dilation of blood vessels, improving blood flow throughout the body. It thus prevents the formation of blood clots (blood clotting disorders) and relieves the heart, facilitating its functioning.

Ginkgo biloba – what do users say about it?

The ginkgo biloba tree, as well as its seeds, leaves and flowers, are known for their medicinal and cosmetic uses. The most commonly observed benefits of ginkgo biloba are related to the treatment of memory disorders, depression, concentration disorders and tinnitus. People who have been supplementing with ginkgo for more than two weeks have observed a beneficial improvement in their health. Some doctors also recommend the use of ginkgo extracts in combination with conventional therapies for the treatment of, for example, chronic rhinitis, arthritis or swelling of the face and legs.

Dosage – how to use ginkgo biloba?

During treatment or supplementation with Japanese ginkgo, the typical dose is 120 to 480 mg of extract per day. These values were assessed based on an extract with a ratio of 50:1. The dosage may vary depending on the expected effects and the product itself.

It is worth remembering that when starting to use ginkgo, we should begin supplementation with 60 mg per day and gradually increase the dose to avoid any side effects caused by ginkgo. As the full effect of ginkgo develops gradually, supplementation usually lasts 2 to 3 months, or even longer. It is not uncommon for the optimal effect to be achieved only after 6 months.

Dried ginkgo biloba leaves – is ginkgo biloba tea safe?

Apart from tablets, powders and drops, one of the most popular ways to use ginkgo biloba is in tea. Unfortunately, it turns out that drinking ginkgo biloba tea is strongly discouraged. Why? The maximum effective potential of ginkgo biloba can only be achieved by using highly concentrated extracts, not by drinking tea.

Furthermore, in tea, we cannot properly control the content of ginkgolic acid, which in high concentrations can be harmful to our health. Although no negative effects of ginkgolic acid are to be expected with occasional consumption of warm ginkgo tea, regular use is not recommended.

Ginkgo biloba – how much does it cost and what to look for when buying?

Ginkgo biloba in Poland is mainly offered in the form of extracts from dried ginkgo leaves, which contain a rich concentration of flavonoids and terpenoids, primarily in the form of characteristic flavonoid glycosides and terpene lactones.

When looking for a good dietary supplement containing Japanese ginkgo, it is worth looking for products containing more than 20% active flavonoid glycosides. An average package containing about 60 capsules of extract costs about PLN 25 online. The final price may vary depending on the manufacturer, quality and composition of the product.

Ginkgo biloba – contraindications and potential side effects

Before starting supplementation with Japanese ginkgo, it is worth considering whether we can safely use the extract. What are the contraindications for the use of ginkgo biloba? The use of the plant is not recommended, among others:

• in pregnant and breastfeeding women

• in patients with haemophilia

• epilepsy patients

• people who are scheduled to undergo surgery in the near future

• people taking blood-thinning medication

Failure to observe the above contraindications or taking excessive doses of ginkgo biloba extract may result in mild gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, dizziness and skin reactions, among other things.

Bibliography

‘Chemical analysis of Ginkgo biloba leaves and extracts’ – T. A. van Beek, Journal of Chromatography, Elsevier, 2002.

‘Do specific dietary constituents and supplements affect mental energy? Review of the evidence’ – H. E. Gorby, A. M. Brownawell, M. C. Falk, scientific journal Nutrition Reviews, OxfordAcademic, 2010.

‘Effects of Ginkgo biloba on Diseases Related to Oxidative Stress’ – G. A. de Souza et al., scientific journal Planta Medica, Georg Thieme Verlag, 2020.

‘Ginkgo biloba Extract in Vascular Protection: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Applications’ – J. Tian, Y. Liu, K. Chen, scientific journal Current Vascular Pharmacology, BenthamScience, 2017.

‘Ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia’ – L. S. Wieland et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews scientific journal, Cochrane Library, 2020.

‘Neuroprotective and Antioxidant Effect of Ginkgo biloba Extract Against AD and Other Neurological Disorders’ – S. K. Singh et al., scientific journal Neurotherapeutics, Elsevier, 2019.

‘Potential effects of ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba, L.) on female reproduction’ – A. V. Sirotkin, Reproductive Biology scientific journal, Elsevier, 2021.

‘The effects of Ginkgo biloba on metabolic syndrome: A review’ – F. Eisvand, B. M. Razavi, H. Hosseinzadeh, scientific journal Phytotherapy Research, Wiley, 2020.