The effect of Ginkgo biloba on memory in healthy male volunteers

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible effects of Ginkgo bil oba, a widely used herbal extract, on memory. This study incorporated a dou ble-blind, placebo-controlled design, which used 30 healthy male subjects i n each of two groups. The treatment group received two 60-mg tablets of Bio Ginkgo (LI 1370) daily for 5 days, while the placebo group received a place bo. On the fifth day, after a 2-h waiting period, all subjects were given t he Sternberg Memory Scanning Test [Q. J. Exp. Psychol. 27 (1975) 1.], a rea ction time control test, the vocabulary and digit span subtests of the WAIS -R [Wechsler D. Manual for the Wechsler adult intelligence scale - revised. New York: Psychological Corporation, 198 1.], a reading span test [J. Verb al Learn. Verbal Behav. 19 (1980) 450.] and a prose recall test [Discourse Proc. 13 (1990) 387.]. Blood pressure, heart rate and side effects were als o monitored throughout the study. Nonsignificant results were found on all interactions involving treatment group on all tests except the Sternberg Me mory scanning Test. The extract appeared to be safe but largely ineffective in enhancing memory. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.