Patent ID: 7048954

Claim:
A process for the preparation of an extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves, comprising: i. extraction of dried fragments of Ginkgo biloba leaves in the form of dried powder in ethanol containing a maximum of 20% by weight of water; ii. concentration of the extract under reduced pressure in the presence of an aqueous solution of sodium chloride and elimination of the dark oil from the remainder of the clear solution; iii. washing of the residual aqueous solution by liquid-liquid extraction with a member selected from the group consisting of n-hexane, n-heptane and cyclohexane; iv. liquid-liquid extraction of the washed aqueous phase with ethyl acetate; and v. washing of the ethyl acetate phase obtained in stage iv with a sodium chloride solution followed by evaporation to dryness of the washed ethyl acetate phase.