Ginkgo Biloba

Synonyms

Salisburia adiantifolia; Pterophyllus salisburiensis; Salisburia macrophylla; Ginkgo tree; Maidenhair tree; Kew tree; Fossil tree; Japanese silver apricot; Yinxing

Definition

Ginkgo biloba is originally from Asia and has been utilized as an herbal remedy for thousands of years in the traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia. G. biloba is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Extract from G. biloba leaves is commonly prescribed medicine to improve circulation and cardiovascular health.

Characteristics

Ginkgo, a unique medium-large deciduous tree with no close living relatives, is classified in the division of Ginkgophyta, consisting of the single class Ginkgoopsida, order Ginkgoales, family Ginkgoaceae, genus Ginkgo and the only one species – G. biloba. Ginkgo, the world’s oldest living tree on earth for 270 million years (the Permian period), was referred to as a living fossil by Charles Darwin in 1859. They spread throughout