Ginkgo Biloba (Maidenhair Tree) – Glycerine Herbal Extract in Drops BIO • memory • concentration and alertness • alcohol-free • extract 1 : 1

Alcohol is an effective solvent in herbal extraction. It is not added to remain in the final product but to release substances from the plant that are more difficult to obtain with water or glycerin. It dissolves both water-soluble components and some less polar compounds.

For ginkgo biloba, an alcoholic or combined water-alcohol extract may first be prepared to obtain the widest possible range of substances from the leaves. The alcohol is then removed from the extract, and the finished extract is transferred to an alcohol-free carrier. Alcohol is only part of the production process, not a component you consume in the end product.

With ginkgo tea, the leaves are usually steeped in hot water. The resulting concentration depends on the amount of raw material used, the volume of water, and the steeping time, so the dose is not precisely determined. Capsules typically contain finely ground leaf or dried extract, often with fillers and other technological substances.

This product is a liquid extract 1:1 from ginkgo biloba leaf. 1 ml of extract corresponds to approximately 1 g of dried leaf, and the usual serving is about 20 drops. The concentration and dosage are clearly defined, and the dose can be easily adjusted drop by drop. Always follow the recommendation on the label of the specific batch.

After the extraction phase is completed, the alcohol is removed from the extract under reduced pressure. Thanks to the vacuum, it can evaporate at a lower temperature than would be necessary with regular heating. Alcohol thus fulfils its role in extraction but is no longer present in the final product.

The result is a concentrated extract from ginkgo biloba leaves without alcohol, which is then transferred into coconut-derived plant glycerin and purified water. Therefore, you consume a liquid extract without alcohol but with a full plant profile.

Multi-stage extraction is a process where several extraction phases are combined to obtain substances from herbs – typically with water and alcohol in various ratios and steps. Different groups of compounds react to different media: some release better into water, others into alcohol.

For ginkgo, this means that the leaves are not processed with a single simple extract but gradually to obtain a wider range of substances. Detailed parameters (maceration time, media ratios) are part of the production know-how. The important thing is that it is a multi-stage prepared extract, not a regular infusion. After removing the alcohol, the extract is transferred into coconut glycerin and water.

Glycerin in the extract serves as a carrier. It keeps the extract in liquid form, allows for drop-by-drop dosing, and contributes to the product's stability without the presence of alcohol.

All Botanicals For Life products use plant glycerin from organic coconut, not the generally labelled plant glycerin from various commodity oils, such as soy or rapeseed. It is an important piece of information about the origin of the carrier – it is clear from what raw material the medium comes, in which the extract is used long-term.

An alcohol-free form does not inherently mean that the extract is weaker. The final concentration is primarily determined by the method of extraction and the ratio in which the raw material is converted into liquid form. Alcohol can be an effective means during production to release certain substances, but its presence in the final carrier does not determine the strength of the extract.

The difference between a classic tincture and this product lies mainly in the form. An alcoholic tincture leaves alcohol as the carrier, whereas here it is removed after extraction, and the extract is transferred into coconut glycerin and water. The 1:1 ratio means that 1 ml of the finished extract corresponds to approximately 1 g of dried ginkgo leaf. The strength can thus be assessed based on the clearly defined concentration, not whether the carrier is alcoholic.

For herbal extracts, it is better to monitor the concentration rather than whether the carrier is alcoholic or non-alcoholic. This is what the 1:1 figure is for, a technical piece of information about the ratio of raw material to finished extract.

The 1:1 ratio means that 1 ml of finished liquid extract corresponds to approximately 1 g of dried plant material. If the typical daily serving is around 20 drops (about 1 ml), this corresponds to approximately 1 g of dried ginkgo leaf.

On the market, you often encounter extracts that do not state the ratio at all or use other ratios, such as 1:2 or 1:5. In such cases, it generally applies that the higher the second number, the more diluted the finished extract is per unit volume. With a 1:5 ratio, 1 ml of extract roughly corresponds to 0.2 g of dry matter. This is why the 1:1 figure is crucial for the customer.

In contrast, with ginkgo tea, it depends on the amount of leaves, the volume of water, and the steeping time, so the actual concentration is difficult to estimate. With capsules, you usually know the weight of the ground leaf or extract, but it is not a liquid extract. With a 1:1 extract, the concentration is defined, and dosing is done drop by drop.

The manufacturer states laboratory testing of finished batches of extracts for common contaminants. They particularly monitor heavy metals, microbiological parameters (yeasts and moulds), mycotoxins and pesticide residues.

Heavy metals are related to the environment and soil in which the plant grows. Yeasts and moulds represent typical contamination risks in plant materials, especially if they have been improperly dried or stored. Mycotoxins are substances that some moulds can produce, and therefore they are monitored separately. Pesticides are mainly a risk with herbs not grown in organic farming.

The essential point is that it assesses not only the origin of the raw material but also the condition in which the finished extract is sold in the bottle. The quality of herbal dietary supplements is determined by several steps: where the raw material comes from, how it was processed, and whether the final product meets purity requirements. Only the combination of this information provides a full picture of quality control.