Identification of biologically active substances from Ginkgo biloba L.

This experiment was conducted to detect the presence of allelopathic substances in the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. Water extracts from G. biloba leaves which collected at different season markedly inhibited the germination and growth of O. sativa, E. crus-galli, D. sanguinalis, and L. sativa, indicating the presence of biological substances. Linolenic and palmitic acid were the major fatty acids of G. biloba leaves. The biochemical substances such as salicylic arid, p-coumaric acid, catechol, hydroquinone, orchinol, ferulic acid, phloroglucinol, and umbelliferone etc., belonging to the phenolic, compounds were, detected in a large amount, which may be responsible for exhibition inhibitory effects. The common phenolic compounds were detected in the early-harvested and late-harvested G. biloba leaves were salicylic and p-coumaric acid. All these compounds were related to the allelopathic activities in G. biloba leaves.