Nootropic
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba GING-koh bih-LOH-buh
Ginkgo is a distinctive tree with fan-shaped leaves and a lineage stretching back millions of years.
Standardised leaf extract is the format most often used in modern functional wellness products.
MIND
FOCUSIngredient guide
What is Ginkgo?
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is the only surviving species of an ancient group of trees and is sometimes described as a “living fossil”. Modern supplements generally use prepared leaf extracts rather than the raw leaf itself.
Ginkgo leaf contains several groups of compounds, especially flavonoids and terpene trilactones such as ginkgolides and bilobalide. Standardised extracts have been studied extensively in relation to cognition, circulation and neurological conditions. Despite the volume of research, the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health concludes that there is no conclusive evidence that Ginkgo is helpful for any health condition, and studies in healthy people do not establish a reliable cognitive-enhancement effect.
This makes Ginkgo particularly important to present accurately. “Studied for cognition” is not the same statement as “proven to improve memory”. Standardisation also matters because research on a defined extract cannot automatically be transferred to an unspecified leaf powder or a different preparation.
At The London Dispensary, Ginkgo is used in selected Balance CBD oils alongside Ashwagandha, vitamins and broad-spectrum CBD. The current ingredient record identifies the leaf, water extraction and an extract final form.
Source to formula
Botanical profile
Key compounds
Ginkgolides
Terpene trilactones characteristic of Ginkgo leaf extracts and widely studied as part of standardised Ginkgo chemistry.
Bilobalide
A sesquiterpene trilactone found in Ginkgo leaves and one of the characteristic constituents of standardised extracts.
Flavonoids
Ginkgo leaf contains flavonoids including quercetin- and kaempferol-related compounds. Standardised extracts control the amounts of major constituent groups.
Evidence, carefully read
What the science says
Ginkgo has been studied for decades, but a large amount of research does not automatically mean a clear benefit. Evidence differs substantially by population, condition and extract.
Cognitive prevention evidence is negative or inconclusive
Large studies have not shown that Ginkgo prevents dementia, and evidence for enhancing cognitive performance in healthy people remains uncertain.
Defined extracts matter
Much of the clinical research uses standardised Ginkgo extracts with specified flavonoid and terpene-lactone content. Results from those preparations should not be applied to every Ginkgo product.
Safety and interactions deserve attention
Ginkgo leaf extract is generally well tolerated in moderate amounts, but it may increase bleeding risk in people taking anticoagulant medicines and can interact with other drugs.
View research references
- Ginkgo: Usefulness and SafetyNCCIH, 2026
- Ginkgo biloba: The Traditional Use, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Therapeutic ApplicationsAmerican Journal of Chinese Medicine / PubMed, 2025
- Bilobalide: A review of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and safetyPhytotherapy Research / PubMed, 2021
Inside our formulas
How we use Ginkgo
Why we use it
Ginkgo is one of the named botanical ingredients in our Balance CBD oil formulas and contributes to the range’s nootropic/adaptogenic ingredient profile.
The form we use
The live ingredient record identifies Ginkgo leaf processed by water extraction into an extract final form.
Why we pair it
In selected Balance oils Ginkgo appears alongside Ashwagandha, B vitamins, Vitamin D and broad-spectrum CBD.
From the dispensary
Products containing Ginkgo
BALANCE
Balance 10% CBD Oil | 3000mg
Full-size 3000mg CBD oil with Ashwagandha, Ginkgo and vitamins.
BALANCE
Balance 15% CBD Oil | 1500mg
Compact 10ml, 15% CBD oil with Ashwagandha, Ginkgo & Vitamin D, B5,6,12.
The botanical notebook
Read more about Ginkgo
Ginkgo Biloba a Brief Overview and History Lesson
Overview of Ginkgo Ginkgo, also known as Ginkgo biloba, is a unique and ancient species of tree that has been around for millions of…
Good to know
Questions about Ginkgo
What is Ginkgo biloba?
Ginkgo biloba is an ancient tree species. Modern supplements normally use prepared leaf extracts rather than raw leaf material.
What part of Ginkgo is used?
Our current ingredient record uses the leaf and a prepared extract.
What are ginkgolides and bilobalide?
They are characteristic terpene-lactone constituents of Ginkgo leaf and are commonly measured alongside flavonoids in standardised extracts.
Does Ginkgo definitely improve memory?
No. Ginkgo has been widely studied, but major evidence reviews do not find conclusive evidence that it reliably improves memory or prevents dementia.
How does TLD use Ginkgo?
Ginkgo appears in selected Balance CBD oils alongside Ashwagandha, vitamins and broad-spectrum CBD.