Determination of ginkgolides A and B in ginkgo biloba leaves by HPLC using activated charcoal

ABSTRACT

Ginkgo biloba [GB] preparations are now among the leading herbal medicines that exert a broad spectrum of possible clinical applications. Several methods have been reported for quantification of ginkgolides of GB and its pharmaceutical preparations and the HPLC techniques are now considered to be the method of choice. However, most reported HPLC methods are not simple and their work-up procedure are inadequate. The present paper describes a simple and non-expensive method for extraction and determination of ginkgolides A and B in GB leaves and their phytopharmaceuticals. The method is based upon extraction of ginkgolides from aqueous solution by activated charcoal, followed by extraction with Methanol and injection of the Methanolic solution into chromatographic system. Ginkgolides were separated on an ODS column with a mobile phase of water-methanol [6733 v/v] at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and were detected at 220 nm. The mean recoveries of ginkgolide A and B were 97 and 98.4%, respectively. This method is simple and can be used for routine analysis of GB extracts and phytopharmaceuticals preparations