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

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.

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

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

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on hypoxic cell fraction and metabolic status in fibrosarcoma (FSa II) of C3H mouse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fibrosarcoma (Fsa II), 6mm in diameter, growing in the right hindleg muscle of C3H mouse was used for estimation of hypoxic cell fraction using comparison of TCD50. Radiation was given one hour after administrationof GBE (100 mg/Kg, i.p.) with or without priming dose of GBE (100 mg/Kg, i.p.) given 24 hours earlier. Radiation was also given under air breathing condition or clamp hypoxia withour GBE as controls. 31P NMR spectroscopy was performed before and one hour after administration of GBE with or without priming dose of GBE. RESULTS: TCD50/120's were 81.7(77.7-86.0) Gy when irradiated under clamped hypoxia, 69.6 (66.8-72.5) Gy under air breathing condition,67.5(64.1-71.1) Gy with a single dose of GBE (100 mg/kg) given one hour before irradiation, and 62.2(59.1-65.5) Gy with two doses of GBE given at 25 hours and one hour before irradiation. The hypoxic cell fractions, estimated from TCD50/120's were 1.6% under air breathing ondition, 7.2% after single dose of GBE, and 2.7% after two doses of GBE. He results of 31P NMR spectroscopy were as follows. PCr/Pi ratio was 0.27 +/- 0.04 and 0.40 +/- before nd one hour after a single dose of GBE(p<0.01). These findings indicate that the metabolic status is slightly improved after a single dose and markedly after repeated administrations. CONCLUSION: GBE decreases the hypoxic cell fraction and improves the metabolic status of tumor, probably by increasing the blood flow and delivery of oxygen and nutrients, resulting in increased radiosensitivity of tumor.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Fibrosarcoma* ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H* ; Oxygen ; Radiation Tolerance ; Respiration

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

Replantation after crush amputation has a relatively low success rate. Thrombus formation due to vessel and tissue trauma is considered as the principal cause of failure. In the laboratory and clinically, we have been tried to improve the post-anastomosis patency rate in crushed microvasculature. To accomplish this, we have usually used several anticoagulant drugs. Extracts from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) have been used therapeutically for centuries. EGb exerts a number of pharmacologic actions. Eighty rats were control group and another 80 rats were treated with EGb 761. The femoral arteries underwent crush injury with an energy of 0.4J, and the vessles in each group were divided and anastomosed by a standard microsurgical technique. Each group was comprised as follows: (1) control group(A1,A2): group A1(n=40); intraluminal saline irrigation, group A2(n=40); intraluminal saline irrigation+heparin 40 u/ml(IV). (2) EGb 761 treated group(B1, B2): groupB1(n=40); intraluminal saline irrigation, group B2(n=40); intraluminal saline irrigation + heparin 40 u/ml(IV). At postoperative 14 days, the patency rates were; group A1 20%, group A2 77.5%, group B1 47.5%, group B2 92.5%. These results were interpreted as follows: the patency rate was significantly increased in the EGb 761-only treated group(p>0.01), the heparin-only treated group(p>0.01), and the EGb 761 and heparin-combined at crushed microvessel surgery. However the patency rate of the EGb-only treated group was significantly lower than that of the heparin-only treated group(p>0.01). And in the EGb 761 and heparin-combined treated group compared to the heparin-only treated group, there was some patency rate increase in the combined treated group, but there was no significant difference between them(p=0.060).
Amputation ; Animals ; Anticoagulants ; Femoral Artery ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Heparin ; Microvessels* ; Pharmacologic Actions ; Rats* ; Replantation ; Thrombosis