The Botany and Chemistry of<i>Ginkgo biloba</i>L.

Abstract

Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba L., a tree indigenous to China has a long history of being used for medicinal purposes. The plant, which can exceed 30 meters in height, exhibits a branching stem dimorphism. Reproduction of this dioecious species involves the movement of male gametophytes via the wind and the production of a male sperm cell that moves through a pollination droplet formed at the apex of the ovule. The primary compounds of interest in ginkgo are the ginkgolides and flavonoids which exhibit bioactivity. The outer fleshy layer of the ginkgo seed is a known skin irritant. In vitro systems for micropropagation and production of bioactive substances appear feasible.