Does Ginkgo help inflammation? (Grade B evidence)
Ginkgo probably helps inflammation (Grade B, moderate certainty), especially in adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation. Studied doses: best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day.
Bottom line. Ginkgo probably helps inflammation (Grade B, moderate certainty), especially in adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation. Studied doses: best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day. [1 RCT]
- Direction
- benefit
- Magnitude
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 RCTs (1104 participants): Ginkgo biloba leaf extract significantly reduced serum CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha versus placebo. Effect on CRP was strongest at higher baseline inflammation (CRP ≥3 mg/L) and lower doses (<500 mg/day). One of the more consistent anti-inflammatory signals in this dataset.
- Grade
- B
- Certainty
- moderate
- Clinical meaning
- small but potentially useful
- Who it applies to
- adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation
- Dose / form studied
- Safety
- serious_with_warfarin; moderate_with_ssri
- The one limitation
- Sample sizes are small in most included trials; effect sizes may shrink with larger studies.
Reviewed · Evidence last changed · Claim clm_ec_b13-ginkgo-inflammation v1
⚠ Safety in context
- seriouswith Warfarin: Ginkgo has antiplatelet activity; with warfarin it may increase bleeding risk. full interaction →
- moderatewith SSRI: Possible additive bleeding/serotonergic effects with SSRIs. full interaction →
Grade B / moderate: probably helps, and new studies are unlikely to reverse this — but could shrink the effect size.
Who it works for
Best-studied in adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation. Effective doses cluster around best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day.
Evidence
| Study | Design | Cite |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract on inflammatory markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical trials. | peer-reviewed | PMID:35781715 |
Why this grade
Reasoning trace
Grade B at moderate certainty. The grade reflects the direction and size of the effect across the 1 publishable source above; certainty reflects heterogeneity, sample sizes, and design quality. What would move it upward: additional well-powered RCTs in the target population that replicate the effect at similar doses. What would move it down: a large null trial, discovery of publication bias, or a retraction of a keystone study.
Dose & form
Studied intake: best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day.
How it stacks up for inflammation
- Ginkgo vs Turmeric for inflammation — Turmeric Grade C
- Ginkgo vs Omega-3 for inflammation — Omega-3 Grade B
- Ginkgo vs Magnesium for inflammation — Magnesium Grade B
- Ginkgo vs Berberine for inflammation — Berberine Grade B
- Ginkgo vs Creatine for inflammation — Creatine Grade —
- Ginkgo vs Melatonin for inflammation — Melatonin Grade B
- All interventions graded for inflammation →
Grade history
No grade changes yet. Initial grade assigned; re-reviewed on every 12 months (Grade A/B) — next review by . Methodology v1.
Re-review cadence: every 12 months (Grade A/B) · next scheduled by · methodology v1.
Frequently asked
How long does Ginkgo take to work for inflammation?
Trials of Ginkgo for inflammation typically report effects within 2–4 weeks, though individual response varies. Studies rarely find benefit inside 1 week for chronic outcomes.
What dose was used in studies of Ginkgo for inflammation?
Studied doses for Ginkgo in inflammation trials cluster around best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day. See the dose block for the specific range and how it varies by form.
Does Ginkgo work for inflammation if I'm not deficient?
The effect concentrates in adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation. If your baseline is normal, expect a smaller effect than the trial averages.
Ginkgo or the next-best alternative for inflammation?
See the compare block above for the head-to-head with the most-cited alternative. Grade + certainty differences matter more than any single trial.
Related
What this is — and is not
- Evidence description
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 RCTs (1104 participants): Ginkgo biloba leaf extract significantly reduced serum CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha versus placebo. Effect on CRP was strongest at higher baseline inflammation (CRP ≥3 mg/L) and lower doses (<500 mg/day). One of the more consistent anti-inflammatory signals in this dataset.
- Substrate's interpretation
- Grade B at moderate certainty — the direction and size the studies converge on, as our reading of the corpus.
- Discuss with a clinician
- If you're on medication or have a condition that changes the calculus, bring the interaction & population blocks above to your pharmacist or prescriber before deciding.
- Individualized medical advice
- Not provided here or on any Substrate surface (API, agent tool, embed) — see YMYL policy.
Cite this page
Reuse under CC-BY 4.0 with attribution to evidencebased.info.
Plain-text citation
Substrate. Does Ginkgo help inflammation? (Grade B). https://evidencebased.info/interventions/ginkgo/inflammation. Updated 2026-07-16.
BibTeX
@misc{substrate_nsginkgoinflammation,
author = {Substrate editorial},
title = {Does Ginkgo help inflammation?},
year = {2026},
url = {https://evidencebased.info/interventions/ginkgo/inflammation},
note = {Grade B, evidencebased.info}
}Found something wrong on this page? Report an error →