Ginkgo biloba extracts-loaded starch nano-spheres: Preparation, characterization, and in vitro release kinetics

Ginkgo as a promising edible material and herbal medicine has received much attention due to its abundant starch contents and functional ingredient ginkgo biloba extracts (GBEs). Many foreign scholars suggest that GBEs can effectively ameliorate the symptoms of mild memory impairment and Alzheimer's dementia. However, an insurmountable problem with application of the GBEs is its low bioavailability, which restricts its application in vivo. Considering the biocompatibility between GBEs and starch, we have prepared ginkgo and corn starch-based nano-carriers, and thereby loaded GBEs onto starch nano-spheres (SNPs) by nanoprecipitation. Compared with unloaded SNPs (201-250 nm), the mean sizes of the monodispersed and spherical GBEs-loaded SNPs were 255-396 nm. Moreover, the loading amounts of GBEs onto ginkgo, and corn SNPs were 0.661-1.045, and 0.560 mg/mg, respectively. In addition, in artificial gastric and intestinal juices, the GBEs-loaded SNPs exhibited a better sustained release than free GBEs.