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 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.

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.

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

OBJECTIVETo establish the technology for extraction of ginkgolides from Ginkgo Biloba with alcohol-water.

METHODThe parameters such as alcohol concentration, pH of extracting solution, ratio of dosage liquor, temperature and time, the extraction of ginkgolides from G. biloba was investigated, and its parameters were optimized.

RESULTThe optimized parameters were alcohol concentration 30%, extracting temperature 50 degrees C, extracting time 2 h, pH 5 solid-liquid ratio 1:15.

CONCLUSIONThis method has the merits of low cost and simple operation.

OBJECTIVETo prepare Ginkgo biloba extract multivariant-phospholipid complex(MGBP) and improve the vitro dissolution of ginkgo total flavonoids by adding another water-soluble carrier in phospholipid complex.

METHODMGBP was prepared using solvent evaporation method with Poloxamer-188 as the carrier and the multivariant complex was analyzed by DSC and X-diffraction technique. The physicochemical properties of the MGBP we also studied, including apparent oil-water distribution coefficients in different pH aqueous solution and its release in vitro.

RESULTThe in vitro dissolution of ginkgo total flavonoids was significantly increased while the apparent oil-water distribution coefficient was improved after been made into multivariant-phospholipid complex.

CONCLUSIONThe preparation technology of MGBP is simple and economic. MGBP can significantly increase the vitro dissolution of ginkgo total flavonoids and improve oil-water distribution coefficients, which can be the reference for the bioavailability in vivo in the further researches.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on the proliferation of cultured human Tenon capsule fibroblasts (HTCF). METHODS: Free radical scavenging activity of GBE was assessed with a DPPH assay. Primarily cultured HTCF were exposed to 10 and 100 microgram/ml of GBE, and the effect of this extract on HTCF survival was assessed. Following 48 hr exposure to the media with or without serum, cellular survival and nitrite production were assessed by MTT and Griess assays. To evaluate whether GBE had a cytoproptective effect, HTCF were cultured in a combination of GBE and either sodium cyanide or hydrogen peroxide. RESULTS: GBE showed free radical scavenging activity. GBE increased the cellular survival of HTCF significantly in a dose-dependent manner and provided a cytoprotective effect when cells were exposed to sodium cyanide or were deprived of serum, but not when hydrogen peroxide was added to the medium. GBE decreased nitric oxide production but not to a statistically degree. CONCLUSIONS: GBE promotes proliferation of HTCF and has a cytoprotective effect in serum-deprived or hypoxic conditions. This suggests that GBE may be involved in the regulation of conjunctival wound healing by increasing the survival of HTCF.
Fibroblasts* ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Humans* ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Nitric Oxide ; Sodium Cyanide ; Tenon Capsule* ; Wound Healing