Use of extracts of

1. A method of treating sarcopenia in warm-blooded animals comprising administering to warm-blooded animals in need thereof an amount of an extract of Ginkgo biloba comprising from 20 to 30% of flavoneglycosides, from 2.5 to 4.5% in total of ginkgolides A, B, C and J, from 2 to 4% of bilobalide, less than 10% of proanthocyanidines and less than 10 ppm of compounds of alkylphenol type sufficient to treat sarcopenia.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the extract of Ginkgo biloba comprises less than 5 ppm of compounds of alkylphenol type.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the extract of Ginkgo biloba comprises a compound of the formula

wherein W, X, Y and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of H, —OH, alkoxy and —O-G S , G S -OH being a mono- or a disaccharide, it being understood that at least one of W, X, Y or Z is —O-G S .

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the compounds of formula (I) are such that X is OH or O-G S , O-G S -OH is a mono- or a disaccharide, and:

either W is OH or O-G S , Y is H and Z is H;

or W is OH or O-G S , Y is OH or O-G S ; and Z is H;

or W is OH or O-G S , Y is OH or O-G S and Z is OH or O-G S ;

or W is OH or O-G S , Y is H and Z is OH or O-G S ;

or W is H, Y is OH or O-G S and Z is OH or O-G S ;

or W is OH or O-G S , Y is alkoxy and Z is H.