A total methanolic extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves was fractionated by solv
ent partition using ethyl acetate (fraction A), n-butanol (fraction B) and
water (fraction C). The antimicrobial activity of the three fractions was e
valuated using a number of Gram-positive and -negative bacteria and yeasts.
The apolar fraction A appeared to be the most interesting because of its a
ctivity against several microorganisms; this fraction was further separated
by high performance liquid chromatography, and shown to contain substances
with strong inhibitory activity against Enterococcus faecalis 31, differen
t from the major known chemical components of G. biloba leaves. (C) 2000 El
sevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.