Ingredient profile
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf in MemoPryl: Memory Evidence and Bleeding-Risk Cautions
Ginkgo biloba leaf is one of the six ingredients on MemoPryl's brand graphics. Three large studies found it did not reduce dementia risk, including the GEM study of more than 3,000 adults aged 75 and older (NCCIH, Ginkgo). Ginkgo can raise bleeding risk with warfarin and may be unsafe in pregnancy. No MemoPryl material we have gives its amount.
Written by the MemoPryl editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What is ginkgo biloba leaf?
An extract made from the leaves of the ginkgo tree. It is probably the best-known herb sold for memory.
MemoPryl's brand graphic names "Ginkgo biloba Leaf", and the eBay seller lists it as an active ingredient (eBay listing, MemoPryl). Neither source says how much is in a capsule or which kind of leaf extract is used. The profile below sets what the label shows next to what research used.
| Label name | Ginkgo biloba Leaf |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ginkgo biloba |
| What it is | Leaf |
| Position in the list | 2 of 8 (no Supplement Facts panel with amounts was available to us) |
| Per serving | Not shown in our materials |
| Amount used in research | GEM study: 3,000+ adults 75+, about 6 years |
| Strength of evidence | Did not prevent dementia |
| Traditional or marketed use | The best-known memory herb |
| Main caution | May raise bleeding risk with warfarin; may be unsafe in pregnancy. |
The research
Does ginkgo biloba help with memory?
Not for the outcome that matters most. Three large studies found that ginkgo did not reduce the risk of dementia (NCCIH, Ginkgo).
Ginkgo has been sold for memory for decades, so it has been tested more than most herbs. The biggest tests were long and careful, and they came back negative. NCCIH, part of the National Institutes of Health, sums it up plainly: ginkgo did not lower dementia risk. A large study that runs for years carries more weight than a small one that runs for weeks, because chance plays a smaller role.
That does not settle every question about everyday focus. It does mean the strongest studies give no reason to expect protection from memory decline.
Ginkgo is a weak reason to choose MemoPryl. Of its named ingredients, bacopa has the most consistent small effects in trials. Compare them on the ingredients overview.
The GEM study
What did the GEM study find about ginkgo?
Ginkgo did not reduce dementia risk in more than 3,000 older adults followed for about six years (NCCIH, Ginkgo).
Bleeding risk
Does ginkgo biloba raise bleeding risk?
It can, and the clearest concern is for people who take warfarin, a prescription blood thinner (NCCIH, Ginkgo).
If you take warfarin or another blood thinner, ask your doctor before any product with ginkgo. Keep taking your prescribed medicine while you wait for an answer, and never stop or change a dose on your own.
Bleeding risk also matters before an operation or dental work. Tell the surgeon or dentist about every supplement you take, MemoPryl included, and ask when to pause it. Phosphatidylserine, another MemoPryl ingredient, may add to bleeding risk too. See the phosphatidylserine profile.
Two herbs, one capsule
Why does ginkgo plus St. John's wort in MemoPryl matter?
Because one capsule brings two separate sources of drug interactions. Each herb acts on medicines in a different way.
Weaker medicines
St. John's wort can make warfarin and many other drugs work less well (NCCIH, St. John's wort).
With warfarin, the two herbs may push in different directions: one toward bleeding, the other toward a weaker drug effect. The overall result is hard to predict, which is exactly why a doctor should decide. Other herbal products you take can add a third source, so list them all.
| Medicine | Ginkgo | St. John's wort |
|---|---|---|
| Warfarin | Bleeding risk | Can weaken it |
| Birth control pills | Not in our source | Can weaken them |
| Some antidepressants | Not in our source | Serotonin side effects |
| Digoxin, some statins | Not in our source | Can weaken them |
The full list is on the St. John's wort page.
Ready to try MemoPryl?1 bottle $39.00 on the live listing · free standard shipping · 30-day returns
Order nowPregnancy
Is ginkgo biloba safe during pregnancy?
It may not be. NCCIH says ginkgo may be unsafe in pregnancy (NCCIH, Ginkgo), and it says the same of St. John's wort (NCCIH, St. John's wort).
- Pregnant: skip MemoPryl unless your doctor approves it.
- Trying to conceive on the pill: St. John's wort can weaken birth control.
- Nursing: St. John's wort may cause colic or drowsiness in breastfed infants.
The brand graphic says adults 18 and over and "Follow the label". No pregnancy warning appears on any MemoPryl image we have.
Side effects
What side effects can ginkgo biloba cause?
Dizziness, stomach upset and headache are the ones NCCIH lists (NCCIH, Ginkgo).
In MemoPryl, those effects can overlap with other ingredients. Bacopa can cause nausea and cramps (ADDF, Bacopa). Huperzine A, listed by the eBay seller, can cause dizziness and stomach effects (ADDF, Huperzine A). If something feels off, it may be hard to tell which ingredient is responsible.
Ginkgo's amount in MemoPryl is not shown in our materials. Follow the serving printed on your bottle, and stop and call your doctor if you notice unusual bruising or bleeding.
Other ingredients
Which MemoPryl ingredient should you read about next?
St. John's wort, because its interaction list is the longest in the formula.
Ginkgo's main concern is bleeding with one drug. St. John's wort weakens a long list of drugs, from birth control to heart and HIV medicines. Read its profile next, then compare the rest on the MemoPryl side effects page.
FAQ
Ginkgo biloba questions
Does ginkgo biloba prevent dementia?
No. Three large studies found that ginkgo did not reduce dementia risk. The largest, the GEM study, followed more than 3,000 adults aged 75 and older for about six years (NCCIH, Ginkgo). No study has tested ginkgo as part of MemoPryl's formula.
Can I take ginkgo biloba with warfarin?
Only if your doctor says so. NCCIH notes a bleeding risk when ginkgo is combined with warfarin (NCCIH, Ginkgo). MemoPryl adds St. John's wort, which can weaken warfarin (NCCIH, St. John's wort), so the combined effect is hard to predict. Bring the bottle to your next appointment.
Is ginkgo biloba a blood thinner?
It is not a prescription blood thinner, but it is linked to bleeding risk, especially alongside warfarin (NCCIH, Ginkgo). That is why surgeons and dentists ask about it. Never use ginkgo or MemoPryl in place of a medicine your doctor prescribed.
Should I stop ginkgo before surgery?
Ask your surgeon, and tell the team you take MemoPryl. Because ginkgo is linked to bleeding risk (NCCIH, Ginkgo), and phosphatidylserine may add to it (ADDF, Phosphatidylserine), the surgical team may ask you to pause the supplement for a while beforehand. Follow their timing.
Can ginkgo biloba cause headaches or dizziness?
Yes, both are listed side effects, along with stomach upset (NCCIH, Ginkgo). In MemoPryl, huperzine A and bacopa can cause similar complaints, so it is hard to pin a symptom on one ingredient. Stop and call your doctor if a side effect is strong or does not settle.
Can I take ginkgo while breastfeeding?
Ask your doctor first. Our ginkgo source does not cover breastfeeding, but MemoPryl also contains St. John's wort, and breastfed infants of mothers taking it may get colic or drowsiness (NCCIH, St. John's wort). With two herbs and no public amounts, waiting is the cautious choice.
How much ginkgo is in MemoPryl?
Our materials do not show it. Neither MemoPryl label version's Supplement Facts panel was available to us, and the eBay listing names ginkgo without an amount. Ask the seller for a photo of the panel, and follow the serving printed on the bottle you receive.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the label, the sales page and linked public health sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner that sells MemoPryl, not by the maker (the pack shots say "By NutraVibe"). We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about MemoPryl
Ingredients
All eight MemoPryl ingredient names, where each one comes from, and the two that need a medicine check.
Read more
Side effects
Every reported side effect and drug interaction for MemoPryl's eight named ingredients, with when to stop and when to call 911.
Read moreSt. John's wort drug interactions
Which medicines St. John's wort weakens, why that matters for MemoPryl, and what to ask your pharmacist.
Read moreU.S. stocking partner for MemoPryl
Ready to try MemoPryl?
The live listing sells single 30-capsule bottles for $39.00 with free standard shipping and 30-day returns, the seller paying return postage.
- Secure checkout
- 30-day window
- Ships from the U.S. with tracking