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Planta Med 2018; 84(06/07): 475-482
DOI: 10.1055/a-0581-5203
Natural Product Chemistry and Analytical Studies
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Ginkgo biloba Food Supplements on the European Market – Adulteration Patterns Revealed by Quality Control of Selected Samples

Szilvia Czigle
1   Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
,
Jaroslav Tóth
1   Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
,
Nikoletta Jedlinszki
2   University of Szeged, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacognosy, Szeged, Hungary
,
Erzsébet Háznagy-Radnai
2   University of Szeged, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacognosy, Szeged, Hungary
,
Dezső Csupor
2   University of Szeged, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacognosy, Szeged, Hungary
,
Daniela Tekeľová
1   Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 01 June 2017
revised 15 February 2018

accepted 16 February 2018

Publication Date:
05 March 2018 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to prove whether Ginkgo biloba food supplements on the European market comply with pharmaceutical quality, and whether their composition satisfies the European Pharmacopoeia criteria. Medicinal products containing a standardised Ginkgo leaf extract are used for the improvement of cognitive impairment and quality of life in mild dementia. Further, Ginkgonis folium is used for the treatment of peripheral circulation disorders. Pharmacopoeial Ginkgo dry extract contains 22.0 – 27.0% flavonoids and 5.4 – 6.6% terpene lactones (ginkgolides, bilobalide). In addition to its widespread use as an herbal medicine (herbal medicinal product), the same extract can be an ingredient in food supplements. The content of active secondary metabolites was quantified in a number of European food supplements containing Ginkgo dry extract or Ginkgo leaf. Flavonoids were quantified using a modified pharmacopoeial HPLC-UV method, and terpene lactones (ginkgolides A, B, C, and bilobalide) using LC-MS/MS. Some Ginkgo leaf supplement samples were also analysed by microscopy. The quality of food supplements on the European market is dubious. In this paper, we present selected examples of several methods of adulteration and falsification, including higher/lower doses of Ginkgo dry extract or Ginkgo leaf than declared and the addition of undeclared extraneous materials. These examples reveal several patterns in the manufacturing of adulterated products.

Key words

Ginkgo biloba - Ginkgoaceae - HPLC-UV - LC-MS/MS - quality control - adulteration

Supporting Information

    Origin of the commercial samples used in this study as well as Batch/Lot numbers are provided in detail in the in Supporting Information.

  • Supporting Information
 

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