Phylogenetic Relationship of Six Glycyrrhiza Species Based on rbcL Sequences and Chemical Constituents.

Abstract

The nucleotide sequences of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit gene (rbcL) of Glycyrrhiza glabra, G. uralensis, G. inflata, G. echinata, G. macedonica and G. pallidiflora have been determined to construct their phylogenetic tree. Based on these sequences, the six Glycyrrhiza species were divided into two groups: three, G. glabra, G. uralensis, and G. inflata, which produce glycyrrhizin as a major saponin, and the others, G. echinata, G. macedonica and G. pallidiflora, which produce macedonoside C as a major saponin. Among the three glycyrrhizin-producing species, only two nucleotide substitutions were observed between the rbcL sequences of G. glabra and G. uralensis, and the sequence of G. uralensis was identical to that of G. inflata, indicating that G. uralensis and G. inflata are closely related. Among the three macedonoside C-producing species, only one nucleotide substitution was observed between those of G. echinata and G. macedonica, indicating that these two species are also closely related.

Field Survey of Glycyrrhiza Plants in Central Asia (2)1). Characterization of Phenolics and Their Variation in the Leaves of Glycyrrhiza Plants Collected in Kazakhstan

“…In the HPLC profile of G. uralensis leaves, three flavanones (1, 2, 5) and two dihydrostilbenes (4, 6) were detected as the major peaks. However, the HPLC profile of the G. uralensis leaves examined in the present study was different from that of G. uralensis leaves (from Chiba University, Japan) reported in our previous paper, 10) in which compounds 1, 2, and 6 were not detected, suggesting that compositions of flavanones and dihydrostilbenes are different among the strains of G. uralensis. In the HPLC profile of the G. glabra leaves, three flavanones 7, 8, and 9 were detected as the major flavanones, these are consistent with those of G. glabra collected in Spain and Sicily.…”

“…In the HPLC profile of the G. glabra leaves, three flavanones 7, 8, and 9 were detected as the major flavanones, these are consistent with those of G. glabra collected in Spain and Sicily. 24) In the leaves of the intermediate-type plants, both G. uralensis-specific compounds (1, 2, 5, 6) and G. glabra-specific compounds (7-9) were detected in different proportions.…”

“…[10][11][12] In the present study, the characterization and variation of these index compounds from the leaves, which might be a good marker for revealing the differences among the three types of Glycyrrhiza plants, are discussed.…”

Comparative Analysis of Ten Strains of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Cultivated in Japan

“…Amplification and Sequencing of the Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Large Subunit Gene DNA isolation, amplification of the 240-bp DNA fragment covering the two nucleotide-substitutions in the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit gene (rbcL) of the glycyrrhizin-producing Glycyrrhiza plants, 10) and sequencing of the DNA fragment were performed as previously reported. Table 1 shows the origins of these 10 strains, but their original habitats were unknown.…”

“…Thus cultivation of G. uralensis was undertaken to substitute for the wild resources. [4][5][6][7] Extensive chemical studies revealed that the roots and stolons of Glycyrrhiza plants contain not only glycyrrhizin but also many flavonoids, 3,8) including species-specific flavonoids, 9,10) such as glycycoumarin in G. uralensis. In addition, chemical variations in leaves of Glycyrrhiza plants were reported, 11,12) and these variations are useful in identifying the species and strains of Glycyrrhiza plants.…”