International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Aug 2012)

Comparative Characterization of Total Flavonol Glycosides and Terpene Lactones at Different Ages, from Different Cultivation Sources and Genders of <em>Ginkgo biloba</em> Leaves

  • Yong Qin,
  • Jin-Ao Duan,
  • Dawei Qian,
  • Chun Jin,
  • Shulan Su,
  • Sheng Guo,
  • Yuping Tang,
  • Erxin Shang,
  • Guisheng Zhou,
  • Xin Yao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms130810305
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 8
pp. 10305 – 10315

Abstract

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The extract from <em>Ginkgo biloba</em> leaves has become a very popular plant medicine and herbal supplement for its potential benefit in alleviating symptoms associated with peripheral vascular disease, dementia, asthma and tinnitus. Most research on <em>G. biloba</em> leaves focus on the leaves collected in July and August from four to seven year-old trees, however a large number of leaves from fruit cultivars (trees older than 10 years) are ignored and become obsolete after fruit harvest season (November). In this paper, we expand the tree age range (from one to 300 years) and first comparatively analyze the total flavonol glycosides and terpene lactones at different ages, from different cultivation sources and genders of <em>G. biloba</em> leaves collected in November by using the validated HPLC-ELSD and HPLC-PDA methods. The results show that the contents of total terpene lactones and flavonol glycosides in the leaves of young ginkgo trees are higher than those in old trees, and they are higher in male trees than in female trees. Geographical factors appear to have a significant influence on the contents as well. These results will provide a good basis for the comprehensive utilization of <em>G</em>.<em> biloba </em>leaves, especially the leaves from fruit cultivars.

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