GINKGO BILOBA EXTRACT

📋 Quick facts

Quick Facts:

• Category: other
• Also Known As: 银杏（GINKGO BILOBA）提取物, イチョウエキス

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Ginkgo biloba extract has been studied for effects on eye pressure, wound healing, skin fibrosis, vitiligo, and blood flow
• Research is limited to laboratory and animal studies, plus one small human study on blood flow
• Different forms of the extract (like EGb761) may have different properties
• No serious toxicity was reported in the studies reviewed

⚗️ Chemical Overview

See also: Ginkgo (annotation moved to); Ginkgo biloba, ext. (annotation moved to); Ginkgo biloba, extract (annotation moved to) … View More …

Source(s): PubChem, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🤰 Pregnancy Safety Note

Listed in California Safe Cosmetics Program as carcinogen or reproductive toxicant

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is a concentrated plant preparation that researchers have tested for several skin and circulatory concerns, though human evidence remains sparse. #1: Eye pressure and ocular health — In rabbits treated with a steroid that raises eye pressure, GBE suppressed the pressure increase and reduced harmful protein buildup in the eye’s drainage tissue (trabecular meshwork), according to Arch Ophthalmol (2008). In human eye cells in dishes, GBE reduced cell death and altered stress-related protein expression. However, this research was conducted in animals and cell cultures, not human eyes. #2: Wound healing in diabetes — A topical cream containing 1–5% GBE significantly improved wound closure in diabetic rats compared to control and reference treatments, with increased collagen (a structural protein in skin) synthesis, per Biomed Res Int (2021).

The cream showed good stability over 6 months and skin compatibility in testing. Again, this is animal research; human wound-healing trials were not included in these sources. #3: Skin fibrosis — GBE reduced skin thickening and suppressed genes involved in fibrosis (excessive scarring) in a mouse model of systemic sclerosis, an autoimmune disease, by interfering with transformative growth factor-beta signaling (Anim Cells Syst [Seoul], 2024). It also prevented certain immune cells from becoming fibrosis-promoting cells. #4: Vitiligo (depigmentation) — A specific GBE formulation called EGb761 protected pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) against oxidative stress-induced cell death in laboratory studies by boosting antioxidant enzymes and activating a protective cellular pathway called Nrf2, per J Cell Mol Med (2019).

Clinical trials mentioned in this paper showed repigmentation in some vitiligo patients taking EGb761, though the abstract does not provide trial details. #5: Blood flow — In a small human study (27 healthy adults), 240 mg/day of EGb761 for 3 weeks showed a “multi-directional modulating action” on skin blood flow (Planta Med, 2004). Interestingly, overall average blood flow decreased compared to placebo, but individual responses varied—some subjects showed increased, decreased, or unchanged flow depending on their baseline. The extract appeared to regulate rather than uniformly increase circulation. Important limitations: Most evidence comes from cell cultures and animal models. The one human study examined blood flow in healthy people, not skin health or disease treatment.

Different GBE preparations (such as EGb761) may work differently. Long-term safety and efficacy in humans remain largely unknown from these sources.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Jia LY et al. (2008). Effect of topical Ginkgo biloba extract on steroid-induced changes in the trabecular meshwork and intraocular pressure. Arch Ophthalmol.
• Lee B et al. (2024). Ginkgo biloba extract ameliorates skin fibrosis in a bleomycin-induced mouse model of systemic sclerosis. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul).
• Bardaa S et al. (2021). Development and Evaluation of the Wound Healing Effect of a Novel Topical Cream Formula Based on Ginkgo biloba Extract on Wounds in Diabetic Rats. Biomed Res Int.
• Zhang S et al. (2019). Ginkgo biloba extract protects human melanocytes from H(2) O(2) -induced oxidative stress by activating Nrf2. J Cell Mol Med.
• Boelsma E et al. (2004). Evidence of the regulatory effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on skin blood flow and study of its effects on urinary metabolites in healthy humans. Planta Med.

🧴 Products Containing GINKGO BILOBA EXTRACT

• Nivea nivea bronze efect
• Trader Joe’s Nourish Oil-Free Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer
• Beauty By Earth Tinted Facial Sunscreen SPF 20
• La Roche-Posay Creme para Olheiras La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Olhos
• Isana men, Rossmann Duschgel sport [3in1]