Recent advances in chemical analysis of licorice (Gan-Cao)
Abstract
Gan-Cao, or licorice, the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G.glabra, and G.inflata, has received considerable interest due to its extensive application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions (60% approximately), clinical therapy, and as food additives world-wide. Chemical analysis is an important approach to understand the active pharmaceutical components in licorice and its prescriptions, as well as to develop novel methodologies for their quality assessment and control. This comprehensive review describes the advances in the chemical analysis, including sample preparation methods, qualitative and quantitative analysis and biological specimen analysis, based on 113 references for the recent years. Newly established methods are summarized, such as high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS), capillary electrophoresis (CE) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR), which allows the identification, authentication, and simultaneous detection of multiple compounds in licorice with higher throughput and sensitivity. It is anticipated that this review could provide imperative information for improving the existing quality evaluation methods of licorice and afford scientific basis for further researches on the pharmacodynamic substances of licorice.
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MITF is a basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper that regulates the expression of melanogenic enzymes (tyrosinase, TYRP1, and TYRP2) and melanosome structural proteins (MART-1 and PMEL17).
“MITF is a basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper that regulates the expression of melanogenic enzymes (tyrosinase, TYRP1, and TYRP2) and melanosome structural proteins (MART-1 and PMEL17) [5].”
From Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra, G. uralensis, and G. inflata) and Their Constituents as Active Cosmeceutical Ingredients (2022) · cites this paper as [5]
Liquiritin is one of the most abundant flavonoids and is used as a quantitative chemical marker in the three official medicinal licorice species in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
“Liquiritin is one of the most abundant flavonoids and is used as a quantitative chemical marker in the three official medicinal licorice species in Chinese Pharmacopoeia [5].”
From Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra, G. uralensis, and G. inflata) and Their Constituents as Active Cosmeceutical Ingredients (2022) · cites this paper as [5]
Among the Glycyrrhiza spp., G. glabra, G. uralensis, and G. inflata are the most investigated species with nutritional and pharmacological benefits, used as Radix Glycyrrhizae (licorice).
“Among the Glycyrrhiza spp., G. glabra L., G. uralensis Fisch., and G. inflata Bat. are the most investigated species with nutritional and pharmacological benefits, used as Radix Glycyrrhizae (licorice) [5].”
From Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra, G. uralensis, and G. inflata) and Their Constituents as Active Cosmeceutical Ingredients (2022) · cites this paper as [5]
Cites
Extraction of Glycyrrhizic Acid and Glabridin from Licorice
Tian, M., Yan, H., & Row, K. H. (2008) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms9040571 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
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Cerulli, A., Masullo, M., Montoro, P., & Piacente, S. (2022) · Cosmetics · doi:10.3390/cosmetics9010007 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
- Authors
- Cheng, M., Zhang, J., Yang, L., Shen, S., Li, P., Yao, S., Qu, H., Li, J., Yao, C., Wei, W., & Guo, D.-A.
- Affiliations
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Guo, De-an
- Venue
- Fitoterapia
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-03
- Volume
- 149
- Pages
- 104803
- ISSN
- 0367-326X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3113346762
- Cited by
- 84
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 1.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Fitoterapia (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Key R&D Program of China (2019YFC1711000)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (82003940)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Traditional Chinese Medicine Analysis
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Pharmacological Effects of Natural Compounds
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Analytical Chemistry › Chromatography in Natural Products
- Keywords
- licorice, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza inflata, chemical analysis, quality control, traditional Chinese medicine, sample preparation, HPTLC, HPLC, LC-MS, capillary electrophoresis, near-infrared spectroscopy, authentication
- MeSH terms
- Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Drugs, Chinese Herbal, Medicine, Chinese Traditional, Molecular Structure, Plant Roots, Electrophoresis, Capillary, Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared, Rhizome, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Phytochemicals
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