Abstract
Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. is used in large quantities in traditional Chinese medicine. It contains flavonoids, saponins, and polysaccharides, with flavonoids being the main active ingredients. In this study, flavonoids were isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. grown in 21 areas in China by water extraction, alcohol precipitation, polyamide resin separation, and other methods. Fingerprints were established by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). There were 15 common peaks in the fingerprints by similarity evaluations of the chromatographic fingerprints. The spectrum-effect relationships between the HPLC fingerprints and pharmacological activities of flavonoids in G. uralensis Fisch., including the heat clearing, detoxifying effects, cough relief, and phlegm elimination effects, were assessed by gray relational analysis and partial least squares regression. After HPLC-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and standard comparison, these five identified compounds (liquiritin apioside, neoisoliquiritin, licochalcone A, licochalcone B, and licochalcone C) could be used to evaluate licorice quality with regard to its efficacy. This research provides a scientific basis for improving licorice quality and also establishes a model for modernization of traditional Chinese medicines.
Highlights
Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, the dried root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat, or Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) [1] and described in the 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia
Determination of the Total Flavonoids Content in Licorice. e total flavonoids contents in the 21 samples from different growing areas were calculated from the UV spectrophotometry results (Figure 1). e content of total flavonoids of licorice root was higher than 60% except S16
Compared with the model group, the licorice flavonoids from samples S1–S21 significantly reduced the excretion of tracheal phenol red ( ∗ P < 0.05 and ∗ ∗ P < 0.01). e results of the ammonia cough test (Figure 5) showed that the total licorice flavonoids decreased the frequency of coughing in mice significantly compared with the model group, but to different degrees
Summary
Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, the dried root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat, or Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) [1] and described in the 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Traditional formulations of licorice from other countries, such as Japan, Iran, and South Korea, are widely used [6,7,8]. It is produced in China and is sold in many countries worldwide. E spectrum-effect relationship is an effective method to evaluate the quality of TCMs [9,10,11]. The chromatographic fingerprints of 21 different producing areas of licorice were obtained using HPLC following existing quality control methods for crude TCMs. Common peaks were determined using similarity evaluation system software to create chromatographic fingerprints. Flavonoid components of licorice could be used as indicators for quality control of licorice which were connected with the traditional effects identified. is research provides a method and scientific data for comprehensively improving licorice quality control
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