Sourcing Shikimic Acid from Waste Streams of Ginkgo biloba Leaf Extract Production

Shikimic acid is a valuable raw material, with its major use as a precursor for the synthesis of oseltamivir, an antiviral drug. Due to a high demand worldwide, multiple sources for shikimic acid exist, most of which are relatively expensive and intricate concerning the preparation of pure material. Herein we present a novel sustainable source, where waste streams of the production of EGb 761, an extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves, could possibly be used for isolation of shikimic acid on an industrial scale.

Automated summary

Shikimic acid is a valuable raw material used for the synthesis of the antiviral drug oseltamivir. This study proposes a novel sustainable source for shikimic acid by utilizing waste streams from the production of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract, EGb 761.