Corporate Finance

Ginkgo: a living fossil

Christina James

04/10/2014

Ginkgo, also known as the Maidenhair Tree, is native to China and was introduced to Korea and Japan via coastal trade routes (Crane, 2013, p. 186). It arrived in Europe in the early 1700s and was brought to North America during the latter part of the century. It is a deeply rooted tree that can survive for thousands of years and reach up to 100 feet in height. The fan-shaped leaves and vibrant yellow-green color are incomparable. What makes this tree unique is that it is the only species left in its entire botanical division, and has no known living relatives (Michel, 1986).

Ginkgo has survived nearly unchanged for about 250 million years thus it is often described as a living fossil. It was one of the only living things to survive within the blast radius after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945 — evidence of its resilience (Crane, 2013, p. 22). It has since become widely renowned for the ability to stand up to harsh urban conditions including pollution, insects, and diseases. Ginkgo is now commonly planted in cities. The female yields a foul-smelling fruit so the male is usually cultivated.

The use of ginkgo for its healing properties began ages ago in traditional Chinese medicine. It was also an essential ingredient in ancient Ayurvedic recipes. Ginkgo was valued by monks as a sacred tree and typically grown near Buddhist temples and holy places. Contrary to popular belief, the seeds are predominantly used in eastern culture whereas leaf extract is used in the west (Ginkgo, 2012).

A special extract of ginkgo biloba, called Egb761, has been available in Europe for the past 30 years and is now marketed in the United States as a dietary supplement ("EGb 761: ginkgo biloba extract, Ginkor," 2003). Egb761 is a standardized extract of ginkgo biloba. There are several purported uses for Egb761 on brain function including concentration, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Claims made regarding...