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.

A new alkaloid, demethylorychophragine A (1), together with 18 known compounds was isolated from the aerial parts of Orychophragmus violaceus. Structure of the new compound was identified by extensive spectroscopic techniques. 2 and 3 were isolated from nature for the first time. Known compounds were identified by comparison with data reported in the literature. All compounds were evaluated for anti-radiation activities against X-ray irradiation in HUVEC cell line. Results showed that 10, 12, and 15 showed excellent anti-radiation activity. All compounds were tested for cytotoxic activity against SH-SY5Y and HeLa cell lines. 16 exhibited significant cytotoxicity activity against SH-SY5Y cells, with IC₅₀ value of 23.86 ± 0.38 µM (p = 0.045). The anti-inflammatory effects of all compounds were assessed by determining their ability to inhibit the production of NO, which was induced by stimulating the RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line with lipopolysaccharide. 16 markedly decreased NO to a level of 27.34 ± 1.29 µM. Graphical Abstract

Two pairs of novel pentacyclic spermidine alkaloid enantiomers, (±)-orychoviolines A and B, were isolated from the seeds of Orychophragmus violaceus and represented the first example of a 2-piperidinone-fused hydrodibenzofuran skeleton.

Although the wide variety of bioactivities of curcumin has been reported by researchers, the clinical application of curcumin is still limited due to its poor aqueous solubility. In view of this, a series of dimethylaminomethyl-substituted curcumin derivatives were designed and synthesized (compounds 1–15). Acetate of these derivatives were prepared (compounds 1a–15a). The Mannich reaction and aldol condensation reaction are the main reactions involved in this study. Compounds 6, 10, 12, 3a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, and 15a exhibited better in vitro anti-inflammatory activity compared to curcumin in the RAW264.7 cell line. Compounds 5, 1a, 5a, 8a, and 12a exhibited better in vitro antioxidant activity compared to curcumin in the PC 12 cell line. Compounds 11, 13, 5a, 7a, and 13a exhibited better in vitro radiation protection compared to curcumin in the PC 12 cell line. The aqueous solubilities of all the curcumin derivative acetates were greatly improved compared to curcumin.