DISTRIBUTION OF GINKGOLIDES AND TERPENOID BIOSYNTHETIC ACTIVITY IN GINKGO-BILOBA

The terpene trilactone content (bilobalide and ginkgolides) of extract s prepared from leaves of terminal buds, rosettes and side branches, f rom stem and root bark, and from root and root meristems of three-year -old Ginkgo biloba plants was determined. The aerial parts were relati vely rich in bilobalide while ginkgolides were the major constituents of the underground parts. The formation of farnesyl and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate was monitored by incubating cell-free extracts prepared from the corresponding plant parts with [1-C-14]isopentenyl pyrophosp hate. Extracts prepared from leaves of the terminal buds displayed ter penoid biosynthetic activity, suggesting that terpene trilactone synth esis might occur inactively growing tissues. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.