GINKGO BILOBA SEED EXTRACT

📋 Quick facts

Quick Facts:

• Category: other
• Also Known As: 银杏（GINKGO BILOBA）籽提取物

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Ginkgo biloba is one of Earth’s oldest tree species, used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years
• The seed extract contains flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin) and compounds called ginkgolides and bilobalide
• Research in rats shows the extract may support spatial memory, working memory, and recognition memory
• Ginkgo biloba seeds naturally contain a potentially toxic compound (MPN) that can be reduced through heat treatment

📊 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.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

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📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Ginkgo biloba is literally a living fossil—the tree species has existed for approximately 200 million years, making it one of the oldest on Earth. Both the leaves and seeds have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for millennia. When researchers analyzed ginkgo biloba seed extract (GBSE) using a technique called liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (which identifies and measures different chemical compounds), they found several active ingredients. These include flavonoids—plant compounds with antioxidant properties—specifically quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin. The extract also contains terpene lactones, which are molecules made by the plant, including compounds called ginkgolides (A, B, C, and J) and bilobalide (Source 1, peer-reviewed journal 2021).

In animal studies using rats, GBSE showed effects on memory and learning. #1: In maze-based memory tests, rats given GBSE showed improved spatial working memory—their ability to remember locations and navigate—compared to control animals (Source 1). #2: The extract also appeared to enhance recognition memory, the ability to remember whether something has been encountered before (Source 1). #3: Results suggested improvements in both short-term and long-term recall abilities (Source 1). Researchers believe these effects happen because the flavonoids and terpene lactones work together to influence brain regions like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which are involved in memory (Source 1).

One important caveat: ginkgo biloba seeds contain a naturally occurring compound called MPN (4′-O-methylpyridoxine), a vitamin B6 derivative that can cause food poisoning. Research shows this toxic component can be reduced significantly through heat treatment at temperatures between 90-150°C (Source 2, peer-reviewed journal 2018). This is why properly processed ginkgo biloba products are important for safety. Note: The memory research cited here was conducted in rats, not humans, so effects in people remain to be established.

📄 Related Research

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

• Tomova T et al. (2021). An experimental study on phytochemical composition and memory enhancing effect of Ginkgo biloba seed extract. a peer-reviewed journal.
• Lim H et al. (2018). Effect of heat treatment on 4′‐O‐methylpyridoxine (MPN) content in Ginkgo biloba seed extract solution. a peer-reviewed journal.
• Lim HB et al. (2018). Effect of heat treatment on 4′-O-methylpyridoxine (MPN) content in Ginkgo biloba seed extract solution. a peer-reviewed journal.

🧴 Products Containing GINKGO BILOBA SEED EXTRACT