A popular supplement may be able to protect the brain from the damaging effects of stroke.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University studied the effects of ginkgo biloba on the brains of mice. The mice were given the supplement daily for a week, then suffered a stroke.

They found the mice that had been given ginkgo biloba had less brain dysfunction and brain damage compared to mice not given the herb.
Experts suspect ginkgo prevents damaging compounds from killing brain cells, however more research is needed.

Researchers are not ready to recommend taking the supplement daily until more human studies are conducted. They advise all patients to talk to their doctor before adding supplements to their routine.