Abstract

Backround: Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is one of the most widely used extracts in food supplements and herbal medicines with wide spectrum of activities.

Introduction: Extracts of Ginkgo leaves contain biologically active flavonoid glycosides from different types mainly flavonol derivatives such as rutin. The amounts of flavone glycosides, one of the key active components in GBE, vary in accordance with the source of the Ginkgo leaves and the extraction and other used procedures.

Method: With respect to quality control optimization solutions, a simple, precise, accurate and reproducible HPLC method for assay of flavonol glucoside rutin is developed and applied to supplements containing GBE. The method is based on the use of isocratic mobile phase regimen with UV detection.

Result: Rutin is successfully separated using 4.6 x 150 mm column RP-18, ODS with particle size 5 m without preliminary hydrolysis. The proposed method is validated in accordance with ICH and European Pharmacopoeia 8.0 requirements and compared with HPLC methods in European Pharmacopoeia and US Pharmacopoeia.

Conclusion: The proposed method could be applicable for identification, purity and assay tests of supplements containing Ginkgo biloba extract according to Pharmacopoeia requirements.

Keywords: Ginkgo biloba extract, rutin, quality control, HPLC.

Graphical Abstract