Understanding Ginkgo And Chemical Composition

Ginkgo and chemical composition:

The active constituents of ginkgo biloba are

• Flavanoids (0.5 - 1%), including coumaric acid, kaempferol, quercetin amd isorhamnetin. 
• Diterpenes called ginkgolides A, B, C and M, which are uniques chemicals. 
• Ginkgo also has Sesquiterpenes (bilobalide), and the organic acids vanillic, protocatechic and hydroxykinurenic.

In terms of when you should harvest to maximise certain chemical concentrations, it is best to gather the young trees of either sex as they have a higher ginkgolide concentration. The next best thing is to harvest female trees over male. (Fisher & Painter, Materia Medica of Western Herbs for the Southern Hemisphere)

To understand ginkgo and chemical composition better, here are some explanation of terms.

Organic acids: Widespread occurence, often during the citric acid or krebs cycle. Water soluble and colorless with a sharp taste (generally)

Coumaric acid is a phenylpropanoid. They are made from different sequences of the shikimic acid pathway, and have a lot of benefit. They are non toxic.

Flavanoids generally protect against stress. They are anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and affect capillary permeability.

Diterpenes are very bitter tasting. They are resin acids, and part of the group of terpenoid compounds.

Sesquiterpene lactones are also bitter compounds and tend to concentrate in the leaves and flowers.

Source: A Pengelly, The Constituents of Medicinal Plants

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