Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Ginkgo biloba: Phytochemical Composition, Antibacterial Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens, and Modulation of Cancer Signaling.

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the phytochemical composition of Ginkgo biloba methanolic extract and investigate its anticancer and antibacterial activity, along with exploring its potential molecular mechanism of action through molecular docking analysis.

Methods: Phytochemical protocols including phenols, flavonoids and saponins were qualitatively evaluated. The anti-bacterial activity was tested versus G+ and G- bacteria using agar well diffusion method. Cytotoxic activity was investigated using the MTT assay on HepG2 (liver cancer), A549 (ling cancer) and WRL-68 (normal) cell lines. Additionally, molecular docking analysis was performed to evaluate the interaction between selected bioactive compounds and the Akt1 protein (PDB ID:2C6T).

Results: The extract demonstrated high levels of total phenols (309.47 ± 4.21 mg GAE/g), total flavonoids (299.78 ± 14.81 mg/mL), and total saponins (137.76 ± 1.72 g/100 g). A significant antibacterial activity was observed in a concentration-dependent manner; the strongest effect was against Escherichia coli, showing inhibition zones ranging from 10 to 27 mm. The MTT assay showed a dose-dependent reduction in the viability of cancer cells, where HepG2 viability decreased from 92.28 ± 1.88% to 45.48 ± 2.61% (IC50 = 144.8 µg/mL), and A549 viability decreased from 93.17 ± 0.41% to 56.16 ± 3.56% (IC50 = 54.33 µg/mL). Meanwhile, lower cytotoxicity was observed in normal WRL-68 cells (IC50 = 145 µg/mL). Molecular docking analysis revealed favorable binding of Ginkgo phytochemicals to the Akt1 active site, with ginkgolide B showing the highest binding affinity (-7.19 kcal/mol), followed by isorhamnetin (-6.79 kcal/mol).

Conclusion: Ginkgo biloba methanolic extract demonstrates significant antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. These biological activities mostly arise from its rich phytochemical composition, particularly the bioactive constituents that may target key signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt. Consistently, molecular docking analysis suggests a synergistic multi-compound mode of action, supporting the idea that Ginkgo biloba has the potential to serve as a valuable source for multi-target therapeutic development.