biloba is a plant; products made from the leaves of this plant
are sold as a dietary supplement meant to enhance mental
performance, especially memory and concentration. While there
are a few small research studies suggesting that ginkgo biloba
can improve memory performance in normal people on specific
tasks in the laboratory, there is little hard evidence that this
transfers to better performance in the real world. Large-scale
clinical trials are currently underway to answer some of these
Ginkgo may also have some utility in slowing the mental decline
in Alzheimer's disease although further tests are needed.
ingredients in ginkgo extracts have not been totally
established. Effects of ginkgo may be caused by a single active
ingredient or by the combined action of many active ingredients
found in the extracts. The active ingredients are made up of
flavenoids and terpenoids, antioxidants that hunt for free
radicals. Ginkgolide B is a terpenoid, which inhibits factor,
and therefore may impede platelet aggregati