Studies on the Constitution of Edible and Medicinal Plants. I. : Isolation and Identification of 4-O-Methylpyridoxine, Toxic Principle from the Seed of Ginkgo biloba L.

Abstract

A toxic substance, 4-O-methylpyridoxine, responsible for "gin-nan food poisoning" was isolated from seeds of Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoaceae). It is proposed that the toxic principle causes food poisoning through not only antagonizing vitamin B₆ in the body but also inhibiting the formation of 4-aminobutyric acid from glutamate in the brain.