Although the functions of a standardized extract of Gingko biloba leaves (EGb 761®) has been reported with regard to neurobiological properties, no attention has been paid to the impact of EGb 761® on the neuronal regulation of energy homeostasis. To evaluate the hypothesis that EGb 761® affect the secretion of peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) and the activation of free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFA4), which are involved in the neuronal circuitries that control energy homeostasis by inducing the transfer of information about the influx of energy to the brain, we examined whether EGb 761® can stimulate PYY secretion in the enteroendocrine NCI-H716 cells and if EGb 761® can activate FFA4 in FFA4-expressing cells. In NCI-H716 cells, EGb 761® stimulated PYY secretion and the EGb 761®-induced PYY secretion was involved in the increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and the activation of FFA4. Furthermore, in FFA4-expressing cells, EGb 761® activated FFA4. These results suggest that EGb 761® may affect the control of energy homeostasis via the regulation of PYY secretion and FFA4 activation.
Brain ; Ginkgo biloba ; Homeostasis ; Neurons ; Tyrosine

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to determine the depositional characteristics of several tree barks, including Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), Pine (Pinus densiflora), Platanus (Platanus), and Metasequoia (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). These were used as passive air sampler (PAS) of atmospheric polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). METHODS: Tree barks were sampled from the same site. PBDEs were analyzed by highresolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometer, and the lipid content was measured using the gravimetric method by n-hexane extraction. RESULTS: Gingko contained the highest lipid content (7.82 mg/g dry), whereas pine (4.85 mg/g dry), Platanus (3.61 mg/g dry), and Metasequoia (0.97 mg/g dry) had relatively lower content. The highest total PBDEs concentration was observed in Metasequoia (83,159.0 pg/g dry), followed by Ginkgo (53,538.4 pg/g dry), Pine (20,266.4 pg/g dry), and Platanus (12,572.0 pg/g dry). There were poor correlations between lipid content and total PBDE concentrations in tree barks (R2=0.1011, p =0.682). Among the PBDE congeners, BDE 206, 207 and 209 were highly brominated PBDEs that are sorbed to particulates in ambient air, which accounted for 90.5% (84.3-95.6%) of the concentration and were therefore identified as the main PBDE congener. The concentrations of particulate PBDEs deposited on tree barks were dependent on morphological characteristics such as surface area or roughness of barks. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, when using the tree barks as the PAS of the atmospheric PBDEs, samples belonging to same tree species should be collected to reduce errors and to obtain reliable data.
Ginkgo biloba ; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers* ; Plant Bark* ; Trees

Ginkgo biloba has a very high medicinal value. The flavonol glycosides and terpene lactones contained in G. biloba extract (GBE) have such pharmacological effects as antioxidant, anti-platelet aggregation and memory improvement, enhancement of immune function. However, the ginkgolic acid (GA) contained in GBE is proved to be highly allergenic and cytotoxic, even minimal residual could also cause severe adverse effects. To minimize the potential safety hazards of ginkgo leaf preparations, this study focuses on GA's chemical structure, adverse effects, toxicity and genesis mechanism, desorption and attenuation in the hope of providing a new thought for studies on safety of Ginkgo biloba preparations.
Animals ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Salicylates ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo establish the method for determination of the fingerprint of tablets of Ginkgo biloba L.

METHODSHPLC-DAD was used to determine the constituents in tablets. Diamonsil C18(200 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) was used as analysis column and acetonitrile/KH(2)PO(4) as mobile phase with gradient elution. The column temperature was at 24 degree. The profile of chemical constituents in control sample and tablets obtained from the chromatograms were analyzed by similarity software.

RESULTThe method developed for components analysis of the standard extracts was linear within certain concentration (r>0.999). There was no difference between the fingerprints of 3 batches of products. The fingerprints of tablets and the extract showed a good similarity(>0.965).

CONCLUSIONThis method is accurate simple and can be used for the quality control of Ginkgo biloba L. preparations.

OBJECTIVETo descript the equilibrium solubility of ginkgo flavonoid components in water and PBS of different pHs.

METHODThe HPLC method was adopted to determine the concentration of quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin in ginkgo biloba extracts, and the equilibrium solubility of the three components in water and PBS of different pHs. Furthermore, the mass fraction weight coefficient method was adopted to express the integrated equilibrium solubility and oil-water distribution coefficient of ginkgo flavonoid components.

RESULTGinkgo flavonoid components were well dissoluble in water, with the maximum equilibrium solubility of 408.29 mg x L(-1) at pH 7.8. Therefore, it could be preliminarily predicted that ginkgo flavonoid components had higher application value, and could provide guiding basis for further development of preparations.

CONCLUSIONBy comparing the results of the direct addition method and the mass fraction weight coefficient method, we found that the mass fraction weight coefficient method was more scientific and reasonable. The tentative study could provide ideas to property characterization of traditional Chinese medicine components.

Ginkgolides,the unique terpenoids in Ginkgo biloba,have a significant effect on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Metabolic regulation and synthetic biology strategies are efficient methods to obtain high-quality ginkgolides. The present study reviewed the cloning and functions of genes related to the biosynthetic pathway of ginkgolides,as well as relevant studies of omics,genetic transformation,and metabolic regulation in recent years,and predicted the research trends and prospects,aiming to provide a reference for discovering the key genes related to the biosynthetic pathway and the biosynthesis of ginkgolides.
Ginkgo biloba/genetics* ; Ginkgolides ; Humans ; Lactones ; Plant Extracts ; Terpenes

In this experiment, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatographytandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was established for the determination of caffeine in commercially available Ginkgo Folium. The samples were extracted by ultrasonic method with methanol, and separated on Waters CORTECS T3 column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 2.7 μm), with mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid solution-0.1% formic acid acetonitrile solution for gradient elution, at flow rate of 0.3 mL·min~(-1); column temperature of 30 ℃, and injection volume of 2 μL. Mass spectrometry was conducted at ESI~+ multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode; quantitative analysis was conducted with external standard method. The results showed that in the range of 0.099 6-9.96 ng·mL~(-1), there was a good linear relationship between the mass concentration of caffeine and the peak area, R~2=0.999; the average recovery was 84.51%, with RSD of 6.2%. The results of precision, repeatability and stability showed that the RSD was 5.1%, 5.9%, 7.2%, respectively. The content range of caffeine in 10 batches of Ginkgo Folium was 1.52-60.86 μg·kg~(-1). In conclusion, this method is accurate, reliable and reproducible, which provides a reference for the safety study of Ginkgo Folium.
Caffeine ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ginkgo biloba ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A case of acute Gingko poisoning in a year and 7 months old boy was presented. The patient manifested vomiting and tonic convulsive seizure after 2 hours of Gingko ingestion and followed by sensory disturbance, miosis, positive Babinski sign, leukocytosis and increased CSF pressure. Patient recovered 3 days later with symptomatic treatment such as anticonvulsanr and parenteral fluid administration. The authors report the case with review of prtinent literature.
Eating ; Fruit* ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Miosis ; Poisoning ; Reflex, Babinski ; Seizures ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: We evaluated the microcircular changes of optic disc, peripapillary and macular area in healthysubjects who had taken Gingko biloba extract. METHODS: 10 healthy subjects (20 eyes) took Gingko biloba extract 40mg three times daily. Confocal scanning laser flowmetry (Heidelberg Retina Flowmetry, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) was used to measure the changes of microcirculation at before and after 2, 4 hours, 1 day, 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks. RESULTS: After administration of Gingko biloba extract, blood velocity, blood flow and blood volume in optic disc, peripapillary and macular area increased in all periods but statistically significant in 1 day, 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks except blood volume of macular area in 1 day. No side effects related to Gingko biloba extract were found. CONCLUSIONS: Gingko biloba extract increased microcircular blood velocity, flow, and volume in healthysubjects.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Blood Volume ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Microcirculation* ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde* ; Rheology

OBJECTIVES: The authors have treated chronic tinnitus patients using a combination of a simplified tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) and medications, which we called modified TRT. In this clinical setting, we have attempted small-group counseling to find a time-effective equivalent of individual counseling. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of small-group counseling by comparing the treatment outcomes between individual and small-group counseling. METHODS: The patients who had distressing chronic tinnitus with normal hearing or mild hearing loss were included. The subjects were placed into the small-group (group 1:4) or the individual (group 1:1) counseling group, and underwent a modified TRT composed of a single session of directive counseling and ambient sound stimulation. In addition, alprazolam (0.25 mg) and ginkgo biloba extract (80 mg) were administered orally to the subjects for 3 months. The 3- and 6- month outcomes were assessed using the follow-up rates and tinnitus severity scores: awareness, tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), loudness, annoyance, and effect on life. The treatment responses were classified as improvement, no changes, and worsening. RESULTS: Of the total 149 patients (77 in group 1:1; 72 in group 1:4), 104 patients completed the protocol at 3 months, and 55 patients at 6 months. The follow-up rates were similar in both groups. Over the period of 6 months, all scores declined significantly except the loudness score at 3 months in both groups. Treatment responses showed no between-group differences. The success rate based on THI was 70% in group 1:1, and 64% in group 1:4 at 6 months. CONCLUSION: The small-group counseling of our modified TRT was comparable to the individual counseling for tinnitus relief. We suggest that this protocol can be implemented effectively in any crowded otolaryngology clinics.
Alprazolam ; Benzodiazepines ; Counseling* ; Directive Counseling ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ginkgo biloba ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Otolaryngology ; Tinnitus*