Bai Guo Ren

Semen Ginkgo (Baiguo) Ginkgo Seed Ginkgo Seed is the dried ripe seed of Ginkgo biloba L. (Fam. Ginkgoaceae). The drug is collected in autumn when the seed is ripe, removed from the fleshy testa, washed clean, steamed or boiled briefly, and dried by baking gently. Description Somewhat ellipsoidal, one end relatively acute and the other end obtuse, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, about 1 cm thick. Externally yellowish-white or pale brownish-yellow, smooth, with 2-3 ribs. Mesotesta (shell) bony and hard. Endotesta membranous. Kernel broadly ovoid or ellipsoidal, one end pale brown and the other end golden-yellow; transverse section yellow, gelatinized in the outer part, and pale yellow or pale green in the inner part, starchy, with a fissure in the centre. Odourless; taste, sweet, slightly bitter. Identification To 10 g of the powder add 40 ml of methanol, heat and reflux for 1 hour, filter, evaporate the filtrate to dryness, add 15 ml of water to dissolve the residue, filter with a few cot