Compound Monograph
Ginkgolic acids
Alkylphenolic acids from Ginkgo biloba, regarded as allergenic contaminants that quality ginkgo extracts are processed to remove.
Sources · 3
Where Does It Come From?
Ginkgolic acids are naturally occurring alkylphenol (anacardic-acid type), found in Ginkgo and 2 other sources. They are flagged as moderately toxic.
Principal source Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba Herb monograph → 
Source Cashew Anacardium occidentale Herb monograph → Concentration
Content by Source
Concentrations not reported. No percent-dry-weight or mg/g figures have been published for this compound in its source plants.
Research & Evidence
Ginkgolic acids are a group of alkylphenolic (anacardic-acid-type) compounds found chiefly in the seed coats and leaves of Ginkgo biloba. Unlike the beneficial flavonoids and terpene trilactones of ginkgo, they are generally treated as undesirable constituents: standardized ginkgo leaf extracts are processed to keep ginkgolic acid content below low limits.
Toxicity & Safety
Ginkgolic acids are allergenic and potentially irritant, belonging to the same chemical family as the urushiols of poison ivy, and they show cytotoxic and mutagenic activity in laboratory assays. For this reason their concentration in ginkgo supplements is deliberately limited. Direct contact with ginkgo seed pulp, which is rich in related compounds, can cause skin reactions.
