Ginkgo biloba: what it is and why it is in BonPatch CLARITY
Ginkgo biloba is one of the most widely used botanicals in the world, and one of the four ingredients in BonPatch CLARITY. Here is where it comes from and why formulators keep reaching for it.
An unusually old plant
Ginkgo biloba comes from the leaves of the ginkgo tree, a species with a fossil record stretching back more than 200 million years and no close living relatives. It has been used in traditional Chinese practice for centuries, and the leaf extract has been a fixture of the Western supplement shelf since the 1960s.
What is in the leaf
Ginkgo leaf extract is characterised by two groups of compounds:
- Flavonoids, plant pigments with antioxidant properties, found across the plant kingdom in everything from berries to green tea.
- Terpenoids, including a group specific to ginkgo, which is part of why the plant has attracted so much research attention.
Standardised extracts are usually described by the ratio of these two groups, which is worth knowing when comparing products.
How it is usually taken
Ginkgo is sold as capsules, tablets, teas and liquid extracts. Quality and standardisation vary a great deal between products, so it is worth reading the label rather than the front of the box.
Speak to a healthcare professional before adding ginkgo to your routine, particularly if you take other medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a procedure coming up.
Where you will find it at BonWellness
BonPatch CLARITY is a rosemary scented topical patch formulated with ginkgo, bacopa, green tea and magnesium L-threonate.
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