A simple procedure that enables the isolation of ganglioside GQ1b and other complex gangliosides from the human brain is described. The tissue was extracted with a mixture of chloroform, methanol, and water, and the extract purified twice by means of silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPTLC. Phase partition and ion exchange chromatography were omitted. The silica gel chromatography was based on a two step developing system, which provided an efficient separation of oligosialogangliosides. The yields of chromatographically homogenous fractions of ganglioside GQ1b isolated from the whole cerebrum, cerebellar cortex and occipital grey matter of a 60-year-old woman were 62, 138 and 110 nmol SA per g of fresh tissue. The problem of co-extraction of protein-positive material with gangliosides into the organic solvents is discussed. Chromatographic search of gangliosides in different regions of the human brain revealed the presence of small quantities of more complex gangliosides than GQ1b.