Ginkgo biloba L. has always been a popular area of research due to its various active ingredients and pharmacological effects. Ginkgo biloba is rich in ginkgo flavonoids, ginkgolides, and ginkgolic acid, with anti-inflammation, antioxidation, neuroprotection, anti-platelet agglutination, hypolipidemic effect, anti-cancer, and anti-radiation properties. There are many methods to extract and separate the active components of ginkgo. Among them, supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction (SFE-CO₂) is known for its green, clean, and environment-friendly properties. In this paper, the pharmacological activities, the active components, and structures of different parts of ginkgo, the extraction methods of its effective ingredients, and the application of the SFE-CO₂ method for the extraction and separation of active ingredients in Ginkgo biloba from leaves, seeds, pollen, and roots were reviewed, in order to make best use of ginkgo resources, and provide support and references for the development of SFE-CO₂ of active components from Ginkgo biloba.

Radiation-induced brain injury (RBI) is a severe complication of cranial radiotherapy that poses a significant clinical challenge due to a lack of effective treatments. Ferroptosis, an oxidative stress-driven cell death pathway, has been implicated in its pathogenesis. Here, we report that 75% ethanol (GBF-8), a novel subfraction isolated from male Ginkgo biloba flowers, confers significant protection against RBI. In a murine RBI model, GBF-8 administration restored cognitive function and alleviated neuroinflammation. We demonstrated that this neuroprotective effect is mechanistically linked to ferroptosis inhibition. Integrated proteomic and metabolomic profiling identified the Solute carrier family 7 member 11 (Slc7a11)–Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4E Binding Protein 1 (Eif4ebp1) axis as the primary target of GBF-8. This work not only establishes GBF-8 as a promising therapeutic candidate but also delineates a previously unrecognized regulatory axis for combating ferroptosis in RBI.

Alkaloids are a material treasure bestowed on humans by nature owing to their numerous biological activities. Orychophragine D, an alkaloid isolated from the seeds of Orychophragmus violaceus was identified as bearing a novel skeleton and proved to have an excellent radioprotective effect. Different from the common alkaloid structure, the main block of orychophragine D is constructed of an oxotriazine and an oxopiperazine, which are connected in parallel by a C-N bond. In this paper, a preparation method for the novel heterocycle skeleton of orychophragine D is proposed for the first time. N-Boc-L-serine was utilized as the original material to complete the preparation with 11 steps in a 13% overall yield. A hydroxyl group was established on the side chain of the skeleton as the reaction site for researchers to conduct further structural modification or derivatization.

Diabetic wounds are a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), with healing often impaired by ferroptosis and persistent inflammation. This study investigated the effects of Ginkgo biloba flower extract (GBF) on diabetic wound healing by focusing on inflammation and ferroptosis. Chemical composition analysis identified 123 compounds in GBF containing 73 active ingredients of flavonoids and 12 terpenoids. In vivo, GBF treatment significantly accelerated the wound healing process in diabetic rats, and GBF promoted epithelial regeneration and collagen deposition by increasing the expression of CD31 and VEGF. It also enhanced the formation of new blood vessels. Mechanistically, GBF could inhibit the inflammatory response by reducing the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and inhibit the oxidative stress-induced ferroptosis by increasing the levels of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Proteomics analysis further confirmed its regulatory effects on inflammation and iron metabolism pathways. In vitro, GBF promoted the survival and migration of rat skin fibroblasts (RS1) while reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Fe²⁺ in erastin-induced ferroptosis cells. In conclusion, GBF promotes diabetic wound healing by inhibiting ferroptosis and inflammation.

Backgrounds: Ginkgo biloba L. has attracted much attention for its unique chemical composition and pharmacological properties, and most of the research focused on Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBL). Our preliminary research found that Ginkgo biloba flowers (GBF) were superior to GBL in terms of anti-radiation activity, but the underlying cause of this discrepancy in activity remains elusive. Objectives: The aim of this study was to systematically compare the chemical and nutritional composition of Ginkgo biloba flowers and leaves, to further elucidate the material basis of the medicinal and nutritional value of Ginkgo biloba flowers, and to conduct further comparative studies on the anti-ferroptosis activity and anti-radiation activity of the two. Methods: In this study, the chemical constituents of GBF and GBL were identified by UPLC-Q-orbitrap HRMS, and the contents of amino acids, fatty acids, inorganic elements, purines, and ceramides of both were determined. Meanwhile, the anti-iron death activity and anti-radiation activity of GBF and GBL were comparatively studied by cellular experiments. Results: The results showed that the content of chemical components such as flavonoids and other nutrients such as amino acids, fatty acids, and ceramides were richer in GBF than in GBL, and GBF was indeed superior to GBL in terms of anti-radiation and anti-ferroptosis activity. Conclusion: Through in-depth analyses of the chemical and nutritional compositions of Ginkgo biloba flowers and leaves, the present study reveals the possible material basis for the stronger activity of GBF and provides theoretical support for its application in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, especially in the development of functional nutraceuticals and anti-radiation drugs with higher health benefits.