Identification of Bioactive Chemical Compounds in Ginkgo and Evaluation of its Antioxidant Activity using GC–MS and DPPH Assays

Abstract

Medicinal plants serve as a significant natural source of bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications. Among these, *Ginkgo* has garnered substantial scientific interest due to its diverse chemical composition and potential biological activities. This study aimed to identify the chemical constituents of a *Ginkgo* sample using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and to evaluate its antioxidant activity via the DPPH free radical scavenging assay.GC-MS analysis enabled the identification of twelve chemical compounds with distinct chemical properties. Among the identified constituents, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol was detected with a peak area percentage of 4.28% and a spectral match quality of 93. Other identified compounds included methyl hex decanoate, methyl stearate, 3-tridecylphenol, unsaturated alkylphenols, di-n-decyl sulfone, eicosane, siloxane derivatives, and an anthracene derivative. The antioxidant activity of the *Ginkgo* sample was evaluated at concentrations of 0.12, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/mL. An increase in free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) was observed with rising sample concentration; the percentage rose from 72.365% at a concentration of 0.12 mg/mL to 82.188% at 1 mg/mL, while the corresponding absorbance values decreased from 0.2895 to 0.1866. These results indicate that the analyzed Ginkgo sample exhibits significant antioxidant activity under the experimental conditions employed.