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CNN Live At Daybreak

Ginkgo May Not Work

Aired August 21, 2002 - 05:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: For the past several years, the popular herbal supplement ginkgo biloba has been touted as the wonder cure for enhancing memory loss.
But as CNN's Elaine Quijano reports, some experts now say it's about as effective as tying a string around your finger.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's sold in grocery and drugstores and touted as a natural memory and concentration booster. But a new study published in the journal of the American Medical Association says at least one brand of ginkgo biloba does not provide the mental muscle its manufacturers claim.

DR. PAUL SOLOMON, RESEARCHER: There was absolutely no difference between people taking ginkgo and people taking a placebo.

QUIJANO: Two hundred three people took part in the six week study. Researchers gave roughly half of them the manufacturer recommended dosage of Ginkoba, a brand produced by German-based Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and distributed here in the U.S. by Pharmaton. The other participants received a placebo and each group underwent a series of mental exercises, including memorizing items on a shopping list.

SOLOMON: We measured how long it took them to learn this shopping list, something they might do on a day to day basis. And then about 20 minutes later we also saw what they could retain from the shopping list.

QUIJANO: Although researchers found no difference between the two groups, they emphasize more studies on other brands of ginkgo biloba need to be done. But they also point out ginkgo and other extracts don't fall under the regulation of the Food and Drug Administration and aren't subject to the same rigorous tests.

(on camera): As for the company that distributes Ginkoba, officials there stand by their claims. They say dozens of other studies on ginkgo point to its effectiveness in aiding memory and concentration.

In Washington, I'm Elaine Quijano.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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