**2. Anticancer effect of extracts derived from various parts of** *G. biloba*

Plants have provided a rich source of therapeutic agents and bases for synthetic drugs. *G. biloba* is dioecious. Male ginkgo biloba release pollen in spring to fertilize the female ginkgo biloba, which produces a large amount of ginkgo drup-like seeds in fall [25]. The seeds of *G. biloba* have been used for the treatment of cancer thousands of years ago in China [26], which is first mentioned in herbals in the Yuan dynasty. Mature ginkgo seeds covered with a fleshy thick outer layer, which named as exocarps, or seed coat, sarcotesta in some research papers. Seed mainly consists of mesosperm, membranous endopleura and kernel. The mesosperm is hard and white shell. The innermost layer of the seed is membranous endopleura, which is red and consists of 1–2 layers of parenchymal cells. The kernal of *G. biloba* is fleshy and pale yellowish-green, consisting of endosperm and embryo, which is an edible part of the seed. The leaves of *G. biloba* (*Ginkgo folium*) are fan-shaped, which are unique among seed plants.

Studies reported that extract or active ingredient from different parts of *G. biloba,* including seeds, exocarps, kernel and flowers exert anticancer effect. In recent years, the anticancer effect of *Ginkgo folium* was extensively reported. We summarized the current reports on the anticancer effect and potential mechanism of the extracts from the different parts of *G. biloba.*
