SEPARATION OF GINKGOLIDES AND BILOBALIDE FROM G. BILOBA

摘要

The subject invention provides a method for separating a terpene trilactone from Ginkgo biloba plant material or from an extract of Ginkgo biloba comprising a mixture of terpene trilactones, the process comprising the steps of: a) subjecting the Ginkgo biloba plant material or the extract to column chromatography with an appropriate solvent system to produce at least a first fraction containing the terpene trilactone bilobalide, a second fraction eluted after the first fraction containing the terpene trilactones GA and GB, and a third fraction eluted after the second fraction containing at least a preponderance of the terpene trilactones GC and GJ; and b) alkylating the terpene trilactone GB of the second fraction so as to produce a first mixture including terpene trilactone GA and alkylated terpene trilactone GB; or alkylating the terpene trilactone GC of the third fraction so as produce a second mixture including terpene trilactone GJ and alkylated terpene trilactone GC, so as to thereby isolate a terpene trilactone.