The ginkgo is the world's oldest living tree species and can be traced back more than 200 million years to the fossils of the Permian period.

Active compounds in ginkgo extract improve circulation, discourage clot formation, reinforce the walls of the capillaries, and protect nerve cells from harm when deprived of oxygen. These ingredients also appear to have an antioxidant effect, sparing brain tissue from the damage caused by free radicals. Because the active ingredients are limited to minute quantities in natural ginkgo leaves, only concentrated ginkgo extract is really effective.

The effects of a standardized Ginkgo Biloba Extract (GBE) center on its active constituents: ginkgo flavone glycosides (bioflavonoids) and the terpene lactones (ginkgolides and bilobalide).

• The bioflavonoids are primarily responsible for GBE's antioxidant activity and its ability to inhibit platelet aggregation.

• The terpene lactones improve circulation and also inhibit platelet-activating factors.

Ginkgo is generally accepted as a remedy for minor deficits in brain function, such as those that occur with advancing age. It is used to improve concentration and combat short-term memory loss due to clogged arteries in the brain, and to treat dizziness, ringing in the ears, headache, and emotional hypersensitivity accompanied by anxiety. For people with intermittent circulation problems in the legs, it permits longer pain-free walks.

• August M., et al, Effect of Ginkgo biloba on arterial smooth muscle response to Vasoactive stimuli. Gen. Pharmacol 13, 169-171

• Stern RG. et al. A longitudinal study of Alzheimer's Disease . Am J.Psychiatry 1994:151:390-396