Ginkgo biloba actually has no fruit! So what is that stinky fruit you eat?

Audit expert: Wang Guoyi

Postdoctoral fellow in Nutrition and Food Safety, China Agricultural University

Winter has arrived in the blink of an eye, but the scenery of late autumn has not completely disappeared. Walking on the road, it is not difficult to find that the autumn ginkgo nuts are still scattered on the ground and in the grass. Ginkgo nuts are round yellow fruits that are often crushed by pedestrians when they fall on the roadside. The soft and rotten flesh has a pungent smell, and many pedestrians avoid them.

ginkgo

Source | The Paper

Although the smell is unpleasant, its taste is loved by many people. Ginkgo nuts are rich in nutrients and are also a traditional Chinese medicine. The Compendium of Materia Medica records that ginkgo has magical effects such as disinfection, insecticide, expectoration and warming the lungs. However, many people have been poisoned by eating ginkgo nuts, and their lives have been threatened.

Are ginkgo nuts poisonous? How can we eat ginkgo nuts without getting poisoned? Let's solve this problem together today.

1

Ginkgo's past and present

Ginkgo is a long-standing tree species, belonging to the Ginkgoaceae family, Ginkgo genus, and Ginkgo biloba phylum. Scientists have discovered through excavation and research of Ginkgo biloba fossils that Ginkgo biloba fossils can be traced back to the Carboniferous period 280 million years ago . This genus was once extremely prosperous in the Mesozoic Era, and reliable Ginkgo biloba fossils can be traced back to the Early Jurassic period 180 million years ago.

Later, under the influence of glacial movement, except for my country, which was less affected by glacial movement, all other ginkgo plants became extinct. Ginkgo survived in my country and became a single species and genus, with a cultivation history of thousands of years. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty even left a poem after viewing the ginkgo: "The ginkgo tree is surrounded by countless people, with lush leaves and green branches and thick shade."

2

Why are ginkgo nuts poisonous?

As we have said above, ginkgo belongs to gymnosperms, so ginkgo fruit is actually the seed of ginkgo tree. However, because the seed coat of ginkgo seeds is relatively developed, the thickness and fullness of the seed coat are similar to those of the fruits of angiosperms, so it is called ginkgo fruit (also called white nut).

Ginkgo biloba fruit sometimes causes controversy due to its toxicity because it contains some toxic chemicals such as cyanide and ginkgolic acid .

Ginkgo Nuts

Source | The Paper

Ginkgo nuts contain rich nutrients such as protein, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, etc. They have certain nutritional value to human health and can provide essential amino acids needed for human growth. Dietary fiber helps digestion of food.

However, some chemicals in ginkgo nuts may also cause adverse reactions. Among them, there is a cyanide called cyanogenic glycoside. Cyanogenic glycoside itself is not toxic, but it will be converted into hydrocyanic acid in the human body , which is a highly toxic substance. Although the content of cyanogenic glycoside in ginkgo nuts is low and usually does not cause poisoning , remember not to consume large quantities (control within 10 pieces).

In addition, there is another toxin called 4'-methoxypyridoxine in ginkgo nuts, which is the main cause of poisoning from eating ginkgo nuts . 4'-methoxypyridoxine inhibits glutamate from forming 4-aminobutyric acid, a neuronal information transmitter that plays a role in transmitting information between nerve cells. If this substance is lacking, vomiting and diarrhea will occur, accompanied by convulsions, fever and other symptoms. Excessive consumption will lead to more serious consequences and cause danger.

Most cases of ginkgo nut poisoning occur in infants and young children. The younger the age, the more susceptible they are to poisoning . The cause of poisoning is that the toxic substances in them are difficult to remove, and children are prone to excessive consumption of ginkgo nuts.

3

Precautions for eating ginkgo nuts

Before eating ginkgo nuts, you must first wash them clean. The method of washing ginkgo nuts is very simple.

First, soak the ginkgo nuts in water for a while to soften the skin. Then use a brush to gently scrub the skin to remove dirt and dust on the surface. Finally, rinse it with clean water to ensure that there is no residual sand or detergent. Remember to check whether the ginkgo nuts are intact and free of cracks before washing to avoid affecting the edible quality.

When handling ginkgo nuts, be sure to wear gloves and take appropriate safety measures. The skin of raw ginkgo nuts contains toxic substances, such as biloba and harmful rutin. Direct contact with untreated raw ginkgo nuts may cause skin allergies or other discomfort.

After that, it must be fully heated and cooked (try not to heat it in the microwave) , because many toxic chemicals in it, such as hydrogen glycosides, are easily soluble in water and their toxicity will be weakened at high temperatures.
In addition, the pulp inside the raw ginkgo nut contains an enzyme inhibitor called auramine, which may have adverse effects on the human digestive system, such as causing symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

If you accidentally consume too much ginkgo berry, or experience any discomfort associated with ginkgo berry, you should take the following measures immediately :

1. Drink enough water to dilute toxins in the body and help excrete them.

2. If you experience obvious discomfort, you should seek medical attention immediately and inform your doctor that you have eaten ginkgo biloba so that the doctor can provide appropriate management and treatment.

3. Try to avoid using detoxification drugs or self-treatment without professional guidance to avoid other adverse consequences.

4. It should be noted that it is generally safe for most people to consume moderate amounts of processed ginkgo berries if they are healthy, but if you have any health problems or are allergic to ginkgo, it is recommended to consult a doctor to ensure safety.