Improved extraction of ginkgotoxin (4'-O-methylpyridoxine) from Ginkgo biloba products

A simple extraction procedure was applied to the analysis of canned/packaged white nuts and Ginkgo biloba extracts. Extraction by shaking with water at room temperature was more convenient to use than a previously published Soxhlet procedure for analysis of packaged Ginkgo biloba seeds (white nuts) for ginkgotoxin; recoveries from spiked dried seeds by the simple extraction procedure averaged 76%. Determination was by liquid chromatography with UV or fluorescence detection. Recoveries of ginkgotoxin from a spiked and unspiked natural health product (powder from Ginkgo biloba capsules) were equivalent by both procedures; recovery from spiked powder by the simple extraction procedure was 81%. Application of this extraction procedure in the analysis of 6 samples of white nuts (vacuum packaged and canned products) showed that free ginkgotoxin was present in 5 samples at concentrations up to 25 microg/g dry weight. Total ginkgotoxin was determined after hydrolysis with beta-glucosidase of sample extracts in which a peak corresponding to the 5'-O-glucoside was detected. Ginkgotoxin was determined in 10 Ginkgo biloba natural health products by the same method at levels up to 181 microg/g.