Survey of Glycyrrhizae Radix resources in Mongolia: chemical assessment of the underground part of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and comparison with Chinese Glycyrrhizea Radix

Abstract

In order to reveal the chemical characteristics of Glycyrrhiza uralensis growing in Mongolia and to clarify whether it can be the source of Glycyrrhizae Radix used in Japan, eight major bioactive constituents in the underground parts of G. uralensis collected in Mongolia were quantitatively analyzed and compared with Glycyrrhizae Radix produced in China. Most of the 15 samples from eastern, southern and western parts of Mongolia contained 26.95-58.55 mg/g of glycyrrhizin, exceeding the criterion (25 mg/g) assigned in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia. The sample collected in Tamsagiyn hooly, Dornod province, in eastern Mongolia was of the highest content 58.55 mg/g. The contents of three flavanone constituents (liquiritin apioside, liquiritin and liquiritigenin) and three chalcones (isoliquiritin apioside, isoliquiritin and isoliquiritigenin) varied significantly according to collection places; the subtotal of the three flavanones ranged from 3.00 to 26.35 mg/g, and the subtotal of the three chalcones ranged from 1.13 to 10.50 mg/g. The content of glycyrrhizin and subtotal contents of flavanones and chalcones in the underground parts of G. uralensis from Mongolia were obviously lower than wild samples, but higher than cultivated samples derived from the same species produced in China. Glycycoumarin, a species-specific constituent of G. uralensis, was detected in all Mongolian samples. Its contents in samples from eastern Mongolia, Sergelen and Tamsagiyn hooly of Dornod province were very high and were compatible with Tohoku-kanzo derived from wild Chinese G. uralensis. The present study suggested that Mongolian G. uralensis could be a source of Glycyrrhizae Radix, mostly of Japanese Pharmacopoeia grade. However, the producing area should be taken into consideration to ensure relatively high quality. In addition, planned use and promotion of cultivation must be advocated to avoid confronting Mongolian Glycyrrhiza with the same threat as its congener in China. Our study sheds some light on selecting cultivation areas and superior strains, which are important tasks to promote cultivation.

The constituents of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) differentially suppress nitric oxide production in interleukin-1β-treated hepatocytes

“…This saponin is the major sweet constituent and the main bioactive compound in Glycyrrhizae radix [1] , which displays hepatoprotective properties in humans and mice [6] , [7] . The contents of isoliquiritin, liquiritigenin, and liquiritin in G. uralensis are significantly higher than those of G. glabra ; therefore, these constituents are characteristic of G. uralensis [4] , [5] . As far as we searched the literatures to date, there are no reports that compare anti-inflammatory activity of several Glycyrrhizae radix constituents using any types of cells.…”

“…, isoliquiritigenin and isoliquiritin), and flavanones ( e.g. , liquiritigenin and liquiritin) [4] , [5] . Glycyrrhizin (also designated glycyrrhizic acid) is a glycoside of glycyrrhetinic acid (also designated glycyrrhetic acid) ( Fig.…”

Cultivation and Characteristics of Licorice F1 (Glycyrrhiza glabra x G. uralensis) Lines

“…The glycyrrhizin contents of some Chinese cultivated licorice plants were below the reference level, which may be attributed to two scenarios: first, the imported licorice was cultivated, not naturally grown; and second, even for naturally growing licorice, the plants were generally less than one year old and thus, the amount of glycyrrhizin in the plants may have been lower than expected (Wei et al, 2012). In fact, an earlier study showed that both cultivated and naturally growing licorice plants from Inner Mongolia have glycyrrhizin levels of <2.5% (Zhu et al, 2009).…”

“…The Korean Pharmacopoeia, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and Japanese Pharmacopoeia have established a 2.5% threshold for the use of glycyrrhizin in medicinal remedies; however, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a glycyrrhizin threshold level of 4.0% (Kojoma et al, 2011). One problem associated with cultivated licorice is that its glycyrrhizin content is generally lower (< 2.5%) than that in its naturally growing counterparts, which could be as high as < 8.0% in mature plants (Yamamoto and Tani, 2002;Zhu et al, 2009).…”

Assessment of genetic fidelity and composition: Mixed elicitors enhance triterpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. tissue cultures

“…Since 2000, Chinese government has been restraining arbitrary collection and exportation of wild Glycyrrhiza plants [9]. In addition, field cultivation is an extremely time-consuming (4-5 years) and labor-intensive process.…”