Ginkgo Biloba Liposomal Liquid: What Formulation Research Shows for Malaysian Prescribers

For healthcare professionals. Compounded preparations are dispensed on a doctor’s prescription.

Short answer: A double-blind randomised cross-over study in 13 healthy volunteers reported that a proprietary liposomal ginkgo extract (Ginkgosome) raised plasma concentrations of ginkgolide B and C by 1.9- and 2.2-fold compared with a standard extract at the same single dose (PMID 35922794). That is a pharmacokinetic finding in healthy volunteers, not evidence of a clinical effect, and it applies to that product only.

The formulation problem

The study begins from a practical problem: standardised ginkgo biloba extracts still vary in absorption and in efficacy from one extract to another (PMID 35922794). A prescriber therefore cannot assume that two products labelled with the same extract content deliver the same constituents to the bloodstream. The formulation question is whether the carrier, rather than the extract alone, changes how much of a constituent is absorbed.

What the human absorption study found

The study compared a proprietary liposomal ginkgo extract (Ginkgosome) with a comparator formulation of equal dose. Thirteen healthy male and female volunteers took a single 120 mg dose of either product in a randomised, double-blind cross-over design, and plasma concentrations were measured at baseline and at intervals over 24 hours (PMID 35922794). In that study, Ginkgosome increased plasma concentrations of ginkgolide B and C by 1.9- and 2.2-fold compared with the comparator (PMID 35922794). The authors concluded that Ginkgosome is safe in humans and shows greater absorption of the ginkgo constituents than the comparator standardised formulation (PMID 35922794). That safety statement is the authors’ conclusion: the abstract reports no safety measure, and the study used a single 120 mg dose in 13 healthy volunteers.

The study measured plasma levels after one dose. It did not measure symptoms, cognition or any clinical endpoint, and it did not test repeated dosing.

What the 2026 review adds

A 2026 holistic review of Ginkgo biloba extract covers extraction, mechanism, nano-delivery systems, and clinical and toxicological evidence. Its statement on nano-delivery concerns carriers as a class: it reports that nano-delivery systems, such as liposomal nanoparticles, effectively enhance the bioavailability and targeting precision of GBE’s bioactive components (PMID 42000006). It also identifies potential toxic side effects, primarily from ginkgolic acids and 4′-O-methylpyridoxine, that necessitate rigorous quality control, with enzymatic degradation being developed for detoxification (PMID 42000006). That nano-delivery statement is the review’s own summary across mixed study types, which its abstract does not break down, and it is not a result for any product.

Limits of the evidence

The human absorption study is small, uses one dose, reports pharmacokinetics only, and tested one proprietary product, Ginkgosome. A difference in plasma concentration does not show that a patient gains a clinical benefit. No human absorption data for any liposomal ginkgo liquid other than Ginkgosome appears in the cited literature (PMID 35922794 tested Ginkgosome only). No human absorption study of a Lynnity preparation is among the cited literature.

Related Lynnity formulation guides

Prescribers comparing liquid carriers for botanical extracts may read the Lynnity guide to tongkat ali capsule formulation research and the guide to misai kucing liposomal solution formulation. The general principles of liposomal carriers are set out in the Lynnity guide to liposomal compounding for Malaysian prescribers.

How to prescribe and order

Lynnity prepares ginkgo biloba extract from its own ingredient, including as a liposomal oral liquid. Each preparation is made on a registered doctor’s prescription for one named patient, under Good Compounding Practice (GCP).

According to the Lynnity formulary record, the ginkgo extract Lynnity holds in stock is standardised to 24% flavonoid glycosides. That is the stock ingredient’s specification, and it says nothing about any clinical outcome. According to the Lynnity formulary record, the permitted forms for ginkgo extract are capsule, liquid (liposomal solution), powder, cream, serum, gel and spray.

The prescriber specifies the strength on the prescription, together with the form and the directions.

Ordering runs through the Lynnity contact page, where the signed prescription is sent. The GCP laboratory page sets out the non-sterile laboratory work behind each preparation.

Frequently asked questions

Does Ginkgosome absorb better than a standard ginkgo extract?

In one randomised cross-over study of 13 healthy volunteers, a proprietary liposomal ginkgo extract (Ginkgosome) raised plasma concentrations of ginkgolide B and C by 1.9- and 2.2-fold compared with a standard extract at a single dose (PMID 35922794). The result is a plasma finding after one dose for that product, not a clinical outcome.

Does the study show a clinical benefit?

No. The study measured plasma concentrations in healthy volunteers and reported no clinical endpoint (PMID 35922794). A higher plasma concentration should not be read as a clinical effect.

Why does quality control matter for ginkgo extracts?

A 2026 review identifies ginkgolic acids and 4′-O-methylpyridoxine as potential sources of toxic side effects that necessitate rigorous quality control (PMID 42000006).

Has Ginkgosome been tested for absorption in humans?

Yes, in one single-dose study of 13 healthy volunteers, which reported higher plasma concentrations of ginkgolide B and C for Ginkgosome than for a standard extract (PMID 35922794). That result applies to Ginkgosome alone.

Reviewer

Reviewed by Vitthia Rama Murti, RPh (RPh 15632).