Objective: To establish UPLC-MS/MS for simultaneous determination of five ginkgolic acids in ginkgo leaves extract.Method: UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm×100 mm

1.7 μm) was used with methanol-0.1% formic acid solution as the mobile phase for gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.4 mL · min-1 with 30℃ column temperature; the mass spectrometer monitors were used to detect related ions by multiple reaction ion monitoring (MRM) mode.Result: The hydroginkgoic acid

ginkgoneolic acid

oleanolic acid

dioctylmethane allyl ginkgolic acid

and dioctylmethane diallyl ginkgolic acid were well separated within 5.0 min

showing good linear relationship (r>0.992 3) at the ranges of 0.20-200.00 ng · L-1. RSD value of the average recoveries was below 5.0% which ranged from 98.86% to 103.30%. We found that the content of the five ginkgolic acids in ginkgo leaves extract from different manufacturers was very different (7.58-23.08 μg ·g-1). The highest content of determined ginkgolic acids in one manufacturer was more than 20 ppm. Only 8 companies met the requirements of the state pharmacopoeia commission of P.R. China (below 10 ppm). ginkgo leaves extract produced by different manufacturers in the market generally had high levels of ginkgolic acid. The contents of ginkgoneolic acid

oleanolic acid

and dioctylmethane allyl ginkgolic acid were higher

while the contents of hydroginkgoic acid and dioctylmethane diallyl ginkgolic acid were lower. According to the results of ginkgo leaves extract from eight qualified manufacturers

we suggested that the contents should be controlled at 2.94-3.59

0.97-1.18

2.35-2.88

2.94-3.59

0.59-0.73 μg ·g-1 respectively for hydroginkgoic acid

ginkgoneolic acid

oleanolic acid

dioctylmethane allyl ginkgolic acid

and dioctylmethane diallyl ginkgolic acid.Conclusion: This method can be used for the quick analysis of ginkgolic acids.