Ginkgo Leaf Research Articles

Neuroprotective, Anti-Hyperpigmentation, and Anti-Diabetic Effects and Bioaccessibility of Flavonoids in Ginkgo Leaf Infusions from Green and Yellow Leaves

Neuroprotective, Anti-Hyperpigmentation, and Anti-Diabetic Effects and Bioaccessibility of Flavonoids in Ginkgo Leaf Infusions from Green and Yellow Leaves

Ginkgo biloba leaf extract: A natural and eco-friendly stabilizer for enhancing the thermal and oxidative stability of polyethylene

Ginkgo biloba leaf extract: A natural and eco-friendly stabilizer for enhancing the thermal and oxidative stability of polyethylene

Efficacy and safety of edaravone combined with Ginkgo Leaf Extract and Dipyridamole in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of edaravone combined with Ginkgo Leaf Extract and Dipyridamole (GLED) versus edaravone alone in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction (ACI) by the method of meta-analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG DATA, and Chinese Scientific Journal Database were searched to identify publications on edaravone combined with GLED for ACI from inception to June 20, 2024. Stata15.0 statistical software was applied for data analysis. The test group was treated with edaravone combined with GLED, while the control group received edaravone alone. A total of 12 records were involved in this meta-analysis. The combined results exhibited that the effective rate of edaravone combined with GLED was significantly higher than that of edaravone in the treatment of ACI (relative risk = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-1.27, P < .001). The National Institute of Health stroke scale scores of edaravone combined with GLED were significantly lower than those of edaravone alone in the treatment of ACI (standardized mean difference = -1.93, 95% CI = -3.36 to -0.50, P = .008). The incidence of adverse reactions in the edaravone combined with GLED group was significantly lower than that in the edaravone alone group (relative risk = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.33-0.70, P < .001) in the treatment of ACI. The combination of edaravone with GLED for treating ACI has better efficacy and higher safety than edaravone alone. Given the limited number of studies identified and possibility of publication bias, the above findings should be verified by more high-quality trials in the future.

Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in the older population living in Germany

Abstract Background Potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) are medicines for which the risks for adverse events (AEs) usually outweigh the clinical benefits in older adults. PIM is associated with an increased risk of AEs, hospitalizations, mortality and higher health care costs. This analysis presents the prevalence of PIM use and associated factors in people aged 66+ years living in Germany. Methods Data from the nationally representative Study on Health of Older People in Germany (Gesundheit 65+) conducted between 2021-2023 by the Robert Koch Institute, was analyzed. All medicines used, prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC), in the 7 days before the interview were classified into anatomical therapeutic chemical codes. PIM use was identified based on the PRISCUS 2.0 list. Weighted prevalences and associated factors for PIM use are presented. Results 96% of the sample (N = 1,474) took at least 1 medication in the 7 days before the interview. The prevalence of PIM use was 29% (95% CI: 26%-32%), 23% took 1 PIM and 6% 2+. There were no sex differences but a significant increase with age: 23% in the age group 66-74, 33% in the age group 75-84, and 39% in the age group 85 + (29% 1 PIM and 10% 2+). People with a low educational level had a PIM prevalence of 32% compared to 21% in those with a high educational level. Among those reporting having chronic diseases, the PIM prevalence was 34% compared to 19% among those not reporting them. The prevalence of PIM increased with the number of medicines used: 13% in 1-4 medicines, 31% in 5-9 medicines, and 53% in 10+ medicines. The most frequently used PIM in this sample was ginkgo biloba leaf extract (plant-based antidementia drug) followed by diclofenac (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), and then by tricyclic antidepressant drugs (opipramol and amitriptyline). Conclusions PIM use was higher than suggested by prescription data analysis. It was associated with higher age, chronic diseases, polypharmacy and a low educational level. Key messages • PIM use was common, affecting more people with chronic diseases, older age groups and people with a low educational level. • Strategies to promote and monitor appropriate medication use are needed.

Pharmacodynamic and Clinical Effects of Ginkgo Biloba Extract EGb 761 and Its Phytochemical Components in Alzheimer's Disease.

Extracts made from plants are complex mixtures of substances with varying compositions depending on the plant material and method of manufacture. This complexity makes it difficult for scientists and clinicians to interpret findings from pharmacological and clinical research. We performed a narrative review summarizing information on ginkgo biloba leaf extract, its composition, pharmacological data and clinical evidence supporting its administration for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Medicinal products containing ginkgo biloba leaf extract which are manufactured in compliance with the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia are approved as medicinal products for the treatment of dementia and related conditions by drug regulatory agencies in Europe, Asia and South America. As multicomponent mixtures, they may affect various targets in the pathogenesis of AD, the most common form of dementia. Pharmacodynamic studies demonstrate the effects of EGb 761 and individual constituents on various pathophysiological features of experimentally induced cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration that could contribute to its clinical efficacy. The safety and efficacy in the treatment of AD and cognitive decline has been studied in randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Most of the studies that investigate the effects of ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) used the special extract EGb 761, which makes it the best-researched plant preparation worldwide. It is therefore the only herbal alternative to standard-of-care anti-dementia drugs. However, the mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated yet, and the clinical studies in AD show heterogeneity.

Investigation of Rheological Properties of Molten Materials for Dripping Pills Based on Imaging Monitoring.

Rheological properties, as critical material attributes (CMAs) of solid dispersion drugs such as dripping pills, affect the melting, dispersion, and solidification. Therefore, characterization and assessments of rheological properties in the pharmaceutical process are important in enhancing drug stability and bioavailability. The study aimed to develop a method for analyzing the rheology of molten materials, assessing their consistency and how rheological properties affect the dripping process and pills quality. The rheological behavior of molten materials composed of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 was characterized. Batch consistency of molten materials was evaluated. Image monitoring technology was utilized to capture and process images of the droplet formation process. We established the relationship between the rheological properties of molten materials and various attributes. The quality consistency of molten materials was evaluated, with 12 batches showing similarity above 0.8. The MLR models showed strong correlations (R2 > 0.80) between rheological properties and evaluation attributes. The rheological properties, including consistency coefficient, flow index, and viscosity at 80°C, were identified as critical rheological properties of the molten materials. Rheological property differences of molten materials have an impact on the morphology of droplet and quality performance. A rheological method was established, enabling quality consistency evaluation of molten materials in dripping pills. This study revealed the influence of rheological properties on droplet formation process and dripping pills quality, providing a reference for researches on material attributes control of other traditional Chinese medicine dripping pills.

Hepatoprotective Activity of Gingko biloba‐Mediated TiO2 NPs Against Acetaminophen‐Induced Albino Rats‐ In Vitro Studies

AbstractNumerous effects of “titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs)” have been described and significantly utilized in complementary drugs for many decades. This study is conducted to analyze the therapeutic efficiency of TiO2 NPs against the acetaminophen‐(AMP) induced toxicity. TiO2 NPs were initially prepared using Ginkgo biloba leaf extract as reducing and stabilizing agent. The prepared TiO2 NPs were studied using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. AFM, TEM, XRD, and DLS studies have confirmed the formation of TiO2 NPs with size between 20 to 60 nm with negative surface charge of about −12 mV. Later, hepatoprotective studies were performed by administering AMP to albino mice only once at a dosage of 2 g/kg p.o. Post 24 h of AMP intoxication, the animals were treated orally with three different doses of TiO2 NPs (150, 100, and 50 mg/kg) or silymarin at an amount of 50 mg/kg p.o., administered only once. Post 24 h of last treatment, all the animals were surrendered to death. The group of mice administered with AMP displayed a substantial raise in the serum alkaline phosphatase (560 ± 31.90), lactate dehydrogenase (167 ± 10.17), aspartate amino transferase (251 ± 14.82), alanine amino transferase (326 + 18.96), bilirubin (2.2 ± 1.066), cholesterol (96.7 ± 6.2), and albumin (6.0 ± 1.27) in serum, which signified the liver damage. A considerably depleted level of glutathione (5.4 + 1.24) was detected in the mice intoxicated with AMP. The activities of catalase (33.2 ± 2.66) and superoxide dismutase (36 ± 2.93) declined after exposure to acetaminophen, resulting in oxidative stress in liver. The performance of adenosine triphosphatase (901 ± 50.7) and glucose‐6‐phosphatase (3.9 + 1.15) were considerably inhibited after administrating with AMP. On treating with TiO2 NPs, all the variables reversed significantly towards regular levels and were noticed to be nontoxic. The groups treated with TiO2 NPs exhibited less activity of ALT, AST, LDH, and SALP in serum, indicating the protective effect of TiO2 NPs to prevent liver damage. Exposure with TiO2 NPs inverted the cholesterol, albumin, and bilirubin levels towards normal, which is similar to silymarin treatment. TiO2 NPs exhibited a substantial change in tissue and blood biochemical parameters with that of control groups. These results indicate that TiO2 NPs possesses hepatoprotective properties that mitigate the hepatotoxicity induced by acetaminophen in rats. Hence, TiO2 NPs can be further utilized in the preparation of medicine against hepatic and renal diseases, post further clinical and preclinical studies.

Substantial Differences in Proanthocyanidin Contents among Ginkgo biloba Leaf Extracts in Herbal Medicinal Products Obtained from the German Market.

Pharmacologic activity of proanthocyanidins in Ginkgo biloba leaf extract has recently been reported. The objective of the present study was to screen proanthocyanidin contents in herbal medicinal products containing Ginkgo extracts. A recently published HPLC method for quantification of proanthocyanidins in G. biloba leaf extract EGb 761 was adopted to also be suitable for finished herbal medicinal products. The method was applied to 14 products from the German market. For each product, a set of three individual batches was purchased and analyzed. Substantial differences in proanthocyanidins contents were found among distinct products, ranging from 0.30 to 5.86%. The batch-to-batch variability within each product was low. The highest concentrations are in a similar range as, for example, the amount of Ginkgo terpene trilactones specified in the monograph for G. biloba leaf extract in the European Pharmacopeia. Although it has not yet been established whether and to what extent proanthocyanidins contribute to the overall pharmacological or clinical efficacy of Ginkgo extracts, a potential impact on the purported benefits of different contents in proanthocyanidins cannot be ruled out. Quality assessment of different Ginkgo extracts in the future may include proanthocyanidins.

Optimized Ginkgo leaf biochar: An efficient adsorbent for 2,4-D herbicide removal from wastewater.

This research exploited biochar, sourced from Ginkgo leaves (GLs), to facilitate the adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in aqueous environments. The results reveal that GL biochar, activated with ZnCl2 at a temperature of 500°C (500-ZGBC), demonstrated the greatest specific surface area (SBET) of 536.0 m2g-1 for 2,4-D adsorption. The biochar's properties, including specific surface area, morphology, structure, thermal stability, and functional groups, were analyzed. Additionally, studies of kinetic and isotherm profiles were conducted, yielding the highest recorded adsorption capacity of 281.8 mg g-1. Pore filling, hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, surface complexation with Zn groups, and electrostatic interactions contribute significantly to the adsorption performance of 500-ZGBC for 2,4-D. Optimal adsorption was determined to occur at pH 2.117, with a dose of 0.4230 g L-1 of 500-ZGBC, and an initial concentration of 2,4-D at 294.7 mg L-1, as evidenced by the application of the response surface method (RSM). PRACTITIONER POINTS: Premium pharmaceutical-grade biochar, derived from Ginkgo leaves, boasting a SBET of 536.0m2g-1 was produced. An absorption capacity reaching 281.8mg g-1 was observed in Ginkgo leaf biochar for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) adsorption. The adsorption procedure was refined through the employment of response surface methodology.

Optimizing Fertilization Strategies to Promote Leaf-Use Ginkgo Productivity and Ecosystem Economic Benefits: An Integrated Evaluation of a Field Trial in Southern China

Field experiments were conducted on a four-year-old leaf-use ginkgo plantation in southern China to assess the impact of nine different fertilization strategies with varying N-P2O5-K2O rates at three growth phases (FBD: March for bud development; FLG: May for leaf growth; FLS: July for leaf strengthening) on leaf-use ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) leaf productivity and ecological economic benefits (EEBs). The results indicated that regardless of timing and rate, fertilizer application led to an increase in leaf area and thickness, resulting in higher ginkgo leaf yield. The highest fresh (215.14 g tree−1) and dry (78.83 g tree−1) yields were observed with 3 g N + 2.5 g P2O5 + 1.5 g K2O tree−1 in FLG. FLS was found to mitigate the decline in SPAD values of leaves during late summer. Furthermore, fertilized ginkgo trees exhibited higher flavonoid concentrations in leaves, enhancing profitability. However, higher fertilizer rates were associated with elevated greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen losses and ecological costs. Despite these drawbacks, all fertilization treatments resulted in increased net economic income. Specifically, compared to no fertilization, FBD, FLG and FLS treatments boosted net income by 3.5~26.6%, 11.6~60.5% and 5.8~35.4%, respectively. Using the entropy weight TOPSIS method, it was concluded that optimizing the N, P and K fertilization rate and timing (applying 3–2.5–1.5 g tree−1 of N-P2O5-K2O in May) is a beneficial approach to maximize EEBs and industrial benefits in leaf-use ginkgo plantations in southern China. This study provides valuable insights into suitable fertilization patterns and management for leaf-use ginkgo plantations in southern China.

Identification and quantification of the antioxidants in Ginkgo biloba leaf.

The antioxidant activity of Ginkgo biloba leaf (GBL) extract is closely related to its efficacy against various diseases; however, the antioxidant activities of the specific constituents of GBL remain unclear. In this study, 194 GBL constituents were identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry, including 97 flavonoids, 37 terpenoids, 29 lignans, 19 carboxylic acids, 5 alkylphenolic acids, 5 alkylphenols, and 2 other compounds. The cleavage rules of the main constituents of GBL were dissected in detail. The 36 GBL constituents with high antioxidant activity were subsequently discovered using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay, including 30 flavonoids and six carboxylic acids. Finally, an HPLC analysis method was established to determine the content of the nine major antioxidants in the three batches of GBL. Among them, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-(6″-p-coumaroyl) glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and rutin exhibited high antioxidant activity and were found in significant amounts in GBL, with concentrations greater than 0.7mg/g. These results provide an important reference for the development of pharmaceuticals and health products containing GBL.

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Ginkgo biloba leaf extract and its in vitro anticancer effects on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Ginkgo biloba leaf aqueous extract was optimized by response surface methodology to yield monodispersed, crystalline nanoparticles of 18 ± 4 nm diameter. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed capping by flavonoids, terpenoids and polyphenols providing stability for over 6 months. The biosynthesized AuNPs exhibited promising in vitro dose and time-dependent antiproliferative effects against human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE1 cells with IC50 reducing from 65.7 to 39.2 μg/mL over 24–72 hrs. Distinct cytoplasmic damage was observed under microscope. Treatment with 50 μg/mL AuNPs for 48 hrs dramatically upregulated pro-apoptotic Bax, Caspase-3 and p53 by 8.7, 6.5 and 4.3 fold respectively while downregulating anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 by 11.2 fold, indicating apoptosis induction via mitochondrial intrinsic pathway. The green fabricated G. biloba AuNPs displayed preferential toxicity towards carcinoma cells compared to normal fibroblasts, indicating potential for targeted nasopharyngeal cancer therapy.

DPP: A Novel Disease Progression Prediction Method for Ginkgo Leaf Disease Based on Image Sequences

Ginkgo leaf disease poses a grave threat to Ginkgo biloba. The current management of Ginkgo leaf disease lacks precision guidance and intelligent technologies. To provide precision guidance for disease management and to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented measures, the present study proposes a novel disease progression prediction (DPP) method for Ginkgo leaf blight with a multi-level feature translation architecture and enhanced spatiotemporal attention module (eSTA). The proposed DPP method is capable of capturing key spatiotemporal dependencies of disease symptoms at various feature levels. Experiments demonstrated that the DPP method achieves state-of-the-art prediction performance in disease progression prediction. Compared to the top-performing spatiotemporal predictive learning method (SimVP + TAU), our method significantly reduced the mean absolute error (MAE) by 19.95% and the mean square error (MSE) by 25.35%. Moreover, it achieved a higher structure similarity index measure (SSIM) of 0.970 and superior peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 37.746 dB. The proposed method can accurately forecast the progression of Ginkgo leaf blight to a large extent, which is expected to provide valuable insights for precision and intelligent disease management. Additionally, this study presents a novel perspective for the extensive research on plant disease prediction.

Ginkgo biloba leaf polysaccharide-stabled selenium nanozyme as an efficient glutathione peroxidase mimic for the preservation of bananas and cherry tomatoes

To develop functional, sustainable and eco-friendly active packaging materials as alternatives to plastic films, we successfully prepared Ginkgo biloba leaf polysaccharide-stabilized selenium nanomaterials (Se-GBLP). Se-GBLP with glutathione peroxidase-like activity could efficiently remove harmful reactive oxygen species. As a functional additive, Se-GBLP was incorporated into degradable chitosan (CS) to fabricate CS/Se-GBLP films. The addition of Se-GBLP improved the mechanical properties, UV–visible light barrier performance, water vapor permeability, and antioxidant activity of the films. Preservation experiments demonstrated CS/Se-GBLP film could maintain quality and prolong the storage time of bananas and cherry tomatoes. It was the first time to use selenium-based nanozyme for fruit preservation. This work offered a cost-effective solution to reduce post-harvest losses, increasing sustainability and profitability. Future research should focus on more factors affecting freshness such as variety, maturity, harvest and storage conditions to improve preservation, as well as on the material's safety concern and environmental impact.

Fast screening of α-glucosidase inhibitors from Ginkgo biloba leaf by using α-glucosidase immobilized on magnetic metal-organic framework.

In this study, a ligand fishing method for the screening of α-glucosidase inhibitors from Ginkgo biloba leaf was established for the first time using α-glucosidase immobilized on the magnetic metal-organic framework. The immobilized α-glucosidase exhibited enhanced resistance to temperature and pH, as well as good thermal stability and reusability. Two ligands, namely quercitrin and quercetin, were screened from Ginkgo biloba leaf and identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration values for quercitrin and quercetin were determined to be 105.69±0.39 and 83.49±0.79µM, respectively. Molecular docking further confirmed the strong inhibitory effect of these two ligands. The proposed approach in this study demonstrates exceptional efficiency in the screening of α-glucosidase inhibitors from complex natural medicinal plants, thus exhibiting significant potential for the discovery of antidiabetic compounds.

Effectiveness of Injection of Ginkgo biloba Leaf Extract Combined with Early Rehabilitation on Functional Recovery in Patients Following Ischemic Stroke

The interest in the development of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of ischemic stroke (IS) is growing. In this study, we aim to examine the therapeutic effects of the standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba leaf EGb-761 on neurological behavioral outcomes and brain infarction in rats following cerebral ischemia. Additionally, we evaluated the effectiveness of combining EGb-761 injection with early rehabilitation in improving the functional status of patients with IS. The rats were induced with focal transient cerebral ischemia by means of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The rats undergoing MCAO/reperfusion were given an intraperitoneal injection of different doses of EGb-761. A total of 65 patients with IS were recruited and assigned into receiving conventional treatments and intravenous drips of Ginaton injection, followed by early rehabilitation. The results showed that neurological deficit scores, brain infarct volume, neuronal apoptosis, and oxidative stress injury were reduced in the MCAO/reperfusion rats treated with different doses of EGb-761 compared to those without EGb-761 treatment. These reductions were more significant in the high-dose EGb-761 treatment group (P &lt;0.05). Both EGb-761 treatment and conventional treatment combined with early rehabilitation resulted in increased muscle strength and higher total BI scores in the patients. However, these increases were more pronounced in the group receiving Ginaton injection (P &lt;0.05). In conclusion, our study demonstrates that acute administration of EGb-761 may contribute to better neurological behavioral outcomes and reduced area of brain infarction in rats following cerebral ischemia and EGb-761 treatment integrated with early rehabilitation could improve the muscle strength and functional recovery of patients with IS.

Therapeutic efficacy of methylprednisolone sodium succinate via diverse administration routes for mid- to high-frequency sudden sensorineural hearing loss

BACKGROUND Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), characterized by a rapid and unexplained loss of hearing, particularly at moderate to high frequencies, presents a significant clinical challenge. The therapeutic use of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) via different administration routes, in combination with conventional medications, remains a topic of interest. AIM To compare the therapeutic efficacy of MPSS administered via different routes in combination with conventional drugs for the treatment of mid- to high-frequency SSNHL. METHODS The medical records of 109 patients with mid- to high-frequency SSNHL were analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups based on the route of administration: Group A [intratympanic (IT) injection of MPSS combined with mecobalamin and Ginkgo biloba leaf extract injection], Group B (intravenous injection of MPSS combined with mecobalamin and Ginkgo biloba leaf extract injection), and Group C (single IT injection of MPSS). The intervention effects were compared and analyzed. RESULTS The posttreatment auditory thresholds in Group A (21.23 ± 3 .34) were significantly lower than those in Groups B (28.52 ± 3.36) and C (30.23 ± 4.21; P &lt; 0.05). Group A also exhibited a significantly greater speech recognition rate (92.23 ± 5.34) than Groups B and C. The disappearance time of tinnitus, time to hearing recovery, and disappearance time of vertigo in Group A were significantly shorter than those in Groups B and C (P &lt; 0.05). The total effective rate in Group A (97.56%) was significantly greater than that in Groups B and C (77.14% and 78.79%, χ 2 = 7.898, P = 0.019). Moreover, the incidence of adverse reactions in Groups A and C was significantly lower than that in Group B (4.88%, 3.03% vs 2.57%, χ 2 = 11.443, P = 0.003), and the recurrence rate in Group A was significantly lower than that in Groups B and C (2.44% vs 20.00% vs 21.21%, χ 2 = 7.120, P = 0.028). CONCLUSION IT injection of MPSS combined with conventional treatment demonstrates superior efficacy and safety compared to systemic administration via intravenous infusion and a single IT injection of MPSS. This approach effectively improves patients' hearing and reduces the risk of disease recurrence.

Real-time monitoring of the column chromatography process of Ginkgo biloba using near-infrared and Raman spectroscopy combined with spectral fusion strategy

In the column chromatography elution process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the real-time monitoring of active components plays an important role in product quality control. In this study, the column chromatography elution process in preparing of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract was performed in bench scale, where near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were collected to determine the concentration changes of several critical quality attributes. Based on single spectral data and fused spectral data, partial least squares and support vector machine models were established, respectively. The results indicated that for most analytes, models based on Raman spectra were superior to NIR spectral models, and fusion models established by the mid-level data fusion approach were superior to the single spectral models. The coefficients of determination (Rt2) of the optimal Raman and mid-level data fusion models were all higher than 0.96. The concentration profiles predicted by the mid-level data fusion quantitative models were in better agreement with the real trends defined by measured values. This is the first-ever study reporting the real-time monitoring of TCM column chromatography process by Raman spectroscopy combined with NIR spectroscopy, having vital reference values for process monitoring and understanding of the column chromatography for other TCM.

Microbial screening and process optimization for efficient removal of ginkgolic acids from Ginkgo biloba leaf

This study aimed to screen microorganisms capable of removing ginkgolic acids (GAs) from Ginkgo biloba leaf. Given the presence of long alkyl side chains in GAs, the study first focused on screening microorganisms that could utilize long-chain alkanes (n-tridecane, n-pentadecane, and n-heptadecane) and further studying their GAs degradation abilities. The results showed that the degradation rates of GAs by the two bacteria strains (identified as Pantoea sp.) were about 50 %, and the degradation rates of GAs by the nine fungal strains (identified as Fusarium sp.) were about 95 %. Meanwhile, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was also found to exhibit a robust capacity for degrading GAs. Through further optimization of the medium components and fermentation conditions, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum achieved a degradation rate of 81.581 % for total GAs after 72 hours of cultivation. Notably, this process did not significantly impact flavonoids and terpene lactones present in Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb), which are essential for its therapeutic properties. Additionally, the results demonstrated that the hydrophobicity of GAs significantly influenced the degradation efficiency of GAs by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. This study highlights the potential industrial application value of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in the production of ginkgo products with low GAs content, thereby enhancing the safety and efficacy of this widely used medicinal plant.

Combinative effect of pulsed-light irradiation and solid-state fermentation on ginkgolic acids, ginkgols, ginkgolides, bilobalide, flavonoids, product quality and sensory assessment of Ginkgo biloba dark tea

Pulsed light (PL) is a prospective non-thermal technology that can improve the degradation of ginkgolic acid (GA) and retain the main bioactive compounds in Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBL). However, only using PL hasn't yet achieved the ideal effect of reducing GA. Fermentation of GBL to make ginkgo dark tea (GDT) could decrease GA. Because different microbial strains are used for fermentation, their metabolites and product quality might differ. However, there is no research on the combinative effect of PL irradiation fixation and microbial strain fermentation on main bioactive compounds and sensory assessment of GDT. In this research, first, Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were selected as fermentation strains that can reduce GA from the five microbial strains. Next, the fresh GBL was irradiated by PL for 200 s (fluences of 0.52 J/cm2), followed by B. subtilis, S. cerevisiae, or natural fermentation to make GDT. The results showed that compared with the control (unirradiated and unfermented GBL) and the only PL irradiated GBL, the GA in GDT using PL + B. subtilis fermentation was the lowest, decreasing by 29.74%; PL + natural fermentation reduced by 24.53%. The total flavonoid content increased by 14.64% in GDT using PL + B. subtilis fermentation, whose phenolic and antioxidant levels also increased significantly. Sensory evaluation showed that the color, aroma, and taste of the tea infusion of PL + B. subtilis fermentation had the highest scores. In conclusion, the combined PL irradiation and solid-state fermentation using B. subtilis can effectively reduce GA and increase the main bioactive compounds, thus providing a new technological approach for GDT with lower GA.