Assay of 44 compounds in the cortex and xylem from roots and branches of Ginkgo biloba L. by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry and chemometric analysis

The leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. have received much attention, whereas there has been little systematic analysis of the cortex and xylem from roots and branches. A comprehensive evaluation of the 44 compounds in the cortex and xylem would thus be of value to fully understand the potential medicinal properties of roots and branches. An assay of amino acids, terpene lactones, flavones, and phenolic acids was accomplished using ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. All of the calibration curves showed good linear regression (R-2 > 0.9902) within the tested ranges. The intra- and interday precision was less than 4.9% and the accuracy was within +/- 6.8%. The amount of terpene lactones in the cortex was 1.75-2.07- fold higher than that in the leaves. The amount of glutamine (360 mu g/g) in the taproot xylem was 2.64-fold higher than that in the leaves (136 mu g/g). Principal component analysis decreased in the order leaves > taproot cortex > rootlet > laterals cortex > branch cortex > stem cortex > taproot xylem > branch xylem > laterals xylem > stem xylem. The taproot of G. biloba might provide a supplementary source of terpene lactones, especially ginkgolide A and C, and of glutamine.