The leaves are harvested on the farms in South Korea, Japan, France and the USA, are then dried, pressed into bales and transported to the manufacturers in Ireland, Germany, Switzerland and France for the production of the extract to be used as a phytomedicine or supplement. It has now become a popular herbal supplement, even prescribed in Germany by general practitioners and covered by national health care assurance. In France it is also prescribed and in the Netherlands it is prescribed for painfree walking. Until now in the USA it is primarily sold as a herbal dietary supplement in drug stores, supermarkets, vitaminshops, nutrition centers and on the internet to use it for memory and mental clarity improvement and for its antioxidant function. Some scientist are suggesting that research on the Ginkgo biloba may lead to a whole new class of medicine.
Flavonoids are natural substances also found in fruits and vegetables, acting as antioxidants.
These contain six rings of five carbon atoms, which are linked to each other in an unusual way. The ginkgolides are also responsible for the medicinal properties of the Ginkgo. Precisely how Ginkgo works and which substances are responsible for the complex medicinal effects remains a mystery. Tests involving one or only a few components of Ginkgo leaves have had disappointing results. The effect of Ginkgo is probably due to a number of substances.