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Panax ginseng (G115®) and Ginkgo biloba (GK501®)

Memory, concentration and attention

Ginkgo biloba and Panax ginseng work together in Gincosan to support cognitive function and mental performance

Research Specific extract

Both Panax ginseng and Ginkgo biloba have been used throughout history to improve cognitive function and mental
performance.1-6

 

In Gincosan®, two specific standardised extracts from the roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and the leaves of Ginkgo biloba, have been combined to create a unique patented formulation of G115 (ginseng) and GK105 (ginkgo).

 

Discover more about the G115 and GK105 extracts used by SFI Health, how they work together, and the key studies that support their benefits when used in Gincosan.

Panax ginseng and Ginkgo biloba in history

Ginkgo biloba L. belongs to the family of Ginkgoaceae, and is believed to be the oldest living tree. Extracts and infusions from the leaves of Ginkgo have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.14

Panax ginseng is a perennial shrub, native to north-eastern China, Korea and Russia.15 It was traditionally used as a tonic to support the body in times of increased demand and to promote good health and vitality.17-19

 

Panax ginseng was first recorded in Chinese medicine over 2000 years ago, and was already the subject of over 600 published books and papers before the year 2000.17,20

 

You may have heard of ‘ginseng’ before, but it’s important to know that not all ginseng is the same. Ginseng comprises a genus called ‘Panax’. Several species of ginseng exist within this, e.g. Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng and so on.  All are ginseng - but there is one with more clinical research supporting its medical use. This is Panax ginseng.

Panax ginseng and Ginkgo biloba in history

The specific extracts used by SFI Health: G115 & GK105

G115 is the specific extract of Panax ginseng used by SFI Health in Gincosan. Its first mention goes back to 1960, and it has over 35 years of research supporting it as an individual extract.21

The special extract G115 is produced from the roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. This is where most of the important ingredients lie, including the active ingredient – the ‘ginsenosides’. It takes up to five years, and involves multiple steps for a Panax ginseng root to become G115, ensuring that there is an optimal concentration of the active therapeutic components. Thanks to a complex process, the G115 extract in Ginsana®, contains a consistent content of ginsenosides - 4% to be exact.

 

GK105 is the specific extract of Ginkgo biloba used by SFI Health in Gincosan. It’s obtained from the dried leaves of the plant and is extracted and processed according to a similar principle as for G115. This ensures that the ‘standardised extract’ contains a consistent content of active ingredients; 24.5% ginkgoflavon glycosides and 6% terpenes (ginkgolides, bilobalide).

 

Because all G115 and GK501 extract are standardized, having the same concentration of active ingredients, it is possible to accurately investigate their safety and effectiveness in clinical trials. 

 

The beneficial effect of G115 and GK501 in Gincosan is based on numerous clinical trials in humans. Results from these clinical studies suggests that this patented combination may:7-13

 

  • Improve attention, concentration and memory
  • Increase the ability to retain information
  • Help the brain function more efficiently
  • Help prevent mental fatigue
  • Enhance the quality of memory
  • Reduce forgetfulness
The specific extracts used by SFI Health: G115 & GK105

How G115 works

The physiology of cognitive performance is a complex process, so the use of a combination of extracts that can act in multiple ways can be useful to support all the processes involved. G115 and GK501 are combined in Gincosan to provide an enhanced effect to significantly improve cognitive function.

It does this by:15,22-28

 

  • Improving blood to the brain
    • Gincsan improves the blood circulation to the brain by diminishing blood viscosity, reducing capillary permeability and relaxing the muscular cells of blood vessels
  • Increasing oxygen to the brain
    • Gincsan facilitates better oxygen and nutrients uptake by the brain
  • Optimising neurotransmission
    • Gincsan allows more efficient interaction and better signal transmission between brain cells
  • Brain protection
    • Gincsan extracts have neuro-protective effects, protecting the nerve cells against early damage

The patented combination of the two standardized extracts provides a superior benefit vs. the individual extracts alone.

How G115 works

G115 and GK105 in clinical trials

The specific extracts used in Gincosan – known as GK105 and G115 – have been researched together over 20 years, in more than 7 clinical trials29, with a demonstrated good tolerability profile.30

Grosse Aldenhovel 199213

47 hospitalised epileptic patients

8 weeks

POSITIVE EFFECT

vs. placebo for:

  • Subjective perception of well-being
Kwiecinski 199712

83 patients with chronic cerebrovascular disorders

8 weeks

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT

vs. placebo for:

  • Lack of concentration
    Forgetfulness
Kennedy 200211

20 healthy young volunteers

4 doses*

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT

vs. placebo for:

  • Accuracy of memory task performance

*Trial analysed the short-term effects of Gincosan

Kennedy 200110

20 healthy young volunteers

4 doses*

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT

vs. placebo for:

  • Quality of memory
    Speed of attention
    Accuracy of memory task performance

*Trial analysed the short-term effects of Gincosan

Scholey & Kennedy 20029

60 healthy young volunteers

90 days

POSITIVE EFFECT

vs. placebo for:

  • Cognitive benefits
Wesnes 20008

279 healthy middle-aged volunteers

14 weeks

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT

vs. placebo for:

  • Cognitive function
    Memory quality (working memory and long term memory)
    Speed of memory retrieval
    Attention power and continuity
    Mood
    Mental and physical well-being
Wesnes 19977

64 healthy volunteers with mild fatigue

3 months

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT

vs. placebo for:

  • Cognitive function

SFI Health Difference

What makes Gincosan different?

 

Natural medicines can vary considerably depending on the species of plant chosen, the way it’s grown and harvested, and the extraction and production process. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure the active ingredient in your product is the same type, and in the same quantity, as the one used in clinical trials.

 

In Gincosan, we take care to use the same specific extracts (combination of GK501 and G115) with the same specifications that have been proven in clinical studies to aid cognitive function and mental performance.  That’s why you can be sure that Gincosan offers the same benefits as demonstrated in the clinical trials.

G115 & GK501: A Summary

>30 YEARS OF RESEARCH

Numerous clinical studies investigating the beneficial effect Panax ginseng & Ginkgo biloba in combination.

10 CLINICAL TRIALS

 Support the combined role of G115 & GK501 in supporting cognitive function and mental performance.

CONSISTENT QUALITY

Through our rigorous processes, quality controls and extensive testing we ensure that the G115 & GK501 extracts provide the desired health outcomes demonstrated by clinical trials.

RECOMMENDED BY HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

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References
  1. Ginseng radix: ginseng. ESCOP Monographs: the Scientific Foundation for Herbal Medicinal Products, 2nd Edition, Exeter, ESCOP, 211-222 (2003).
  2. Radix Ginseng. WHO monographs on medicinal plants commonly used in the Newly Independent States (NIS). Geneva: World Health Organization, 141-159 (2010).
  3. European Medicines Agency. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC): final: community herbal monograph on Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer, radix (London, 25 March 2014, doc. Ref, EMA/HMPC/321233/2012).
  4. Ginkgo folium: ESCOP Monographs: the Scientific Foundation for Herbal Medicinal Products, 2nd Edition, Exeter, ESCOP, 178- 210 (2003).
  5. WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, Volume 1, Geneva, World Health Organization, 154-167 (1999).
  6. European Medicines Agency. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC): final: community herbal monograph on Ginkgo biloba L. folium (London, 28 January 2014, doc.ref, EMA/HMPC/321097/2012).
  7. Wesnes KA, et al. Psychopharmacol Bull 1997; 38 (4): 677-683.
  8. Wesnes KA, Ward T, McGinty A, Petrini O. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2000;152(4):353-61.
  9. Scholey AB, Kennedy DO. Hum Psychopharmacol 2002;17(1):35-44.
  10. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Wesnes KA. Nutr Neurosci 2001;4(5):399-412.
  11. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Wesnes KA. Physiol Behav. 2002;75(5):739-51.
  12. Kwiecinski H Lusakowska A, Mieszkowski J. Eur J Clin Res 1997;9:59-67.
  13. Grosse Aldenhoevel HB, Degenring F, Mulz D. Psycho 1992; 18 (7): 495-501.
  14. McKay, D. Alternative Medicine Review 2004; 9(1): 4-16. 
  15. Ulbricht (2013). Natural Standard Database. Panax ginseng. 
  16. Pizzorno, J.E. & Murray, M.T. (1999). Textbook of natural medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences. 
  17. Schulz, V. et al. (2001), Rational Phytotherapy: A Physicians’ Guided to Herbal Medicine, p. 332
  18. Scaglione F et al. 2005 Evid Based Integrative Med 2(4); 195-206.
  19. Mahadevan S & Park Y. Journal of Food Science vol. 73-1 (2008).
  20. Jung F, et al. Arzneimittelforschung 1990;40(5):589-93.
  21. Krieglstein, Josef, et al. European journal of pharmaceutical sciences 1995;3(1):39-48.
  22. Yoshitake T, Yoshitake S and Kehr J. Br J Pharmacol 2010; Feb; 159(3): 659–668.
  23. Watanabe, Coran MH, et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2001;98(12): 6577-6580.
  24. Rokot NT, et al. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2016)
  25. Smith I et al. Nutrition Reviews Vol 72.(5):319-333 (2014).
  26. Landucci E et al. 11°FENS forum of Neuroscience. 7-11 July, Berlin. Poster presentation C14-Neuroprotection, Abstract C132. Effects of Ginkgo biloba (GK501) and Panax ginseng (G115) alone or in combination in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures exposed to excitotoxic insults.
  27. Schleicher P. Offene Studie zur Beurteilung der Verträglichkeit des Präparates PHL-00701 Pharmaton. Interner Bericht Pharmaton, 04.01.1988.
  28. fervervfffvvvv

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