WHO

Ginkgo Remedies Fail WHO Standards

I have always maintained that buying herbs from anything less than a well known nutriceutical company is a mistake. The quality control is not there and varies widely. There are several companies in the country that sells only to physicians, and these companies, in general, adhere to GMP standards and can be relied upon for safety and reliability. On the positive side, ginko does have many good benefits anywhere increased blood flow is needed. I have even had numerous patients even respond nicely with ginko for treatment of impotence.

(article) Some products that contain the herbal remedy Ginkgo biloba do not meet World Health Organization specifications, raising concerns that the products are ineffective or increase the risk of allergic reactions. Ginkgo biloba is marketed as a way to treat dizziness, headache, and memory and concentration problems. A test of 14 samples of over-the-counter products showed that in 11 cases, the products did not contain all active ingredients associated with Ginkgo biloba leaf extract as specified in standards set by the WHO, according to Kenneth So of the Hong Kong Consumer Council. The active ingredients of the Ginkgo biloba leaf are found in low levels in raw ginkgo leaf, and, according to So, the efficacy of the final product depends on all the active ingredients being present in the specified proportions. Testing showed that one product did deliver the recommended levels of active ingredients, but 13 other samples had levels of ingredients that were too low or too high. The level of a possible allergen, ginkgolic acid, was also tested. In 13 of the products, the amount of the compound was 16 to 733 times higher than the WHO’s recommendation. Only one sample met the limit for ginkgolic acid, and this product failed in terms of the amount of its active ingredient. There is no definitive evidence linking Ginkgo biloba with a handful of cases of side effects, according to the council. “Nonetheless, potentially, ginkgolic acid could cause side effects and manufacturers should reduce the content of ginkgolic acid in preparations to below a specified content.”