• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.276-286
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• 2017

Licorice, a traditional Korean medicinal plant, is recognized for its main active ingredient, glycyrrhizin. The level of glycyrrhizin in Chinese licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) is lower than the reference level (2.5%) set by the Korean Pharmacopoeia, reducing its value as a medicinal herb. In this study, we aimed to overcome this problem by generating an interspecific licorice hybrid by crossing European licorice (G. glabra) with Chinese licorice, resulting in the production of 32 $F_1$ lines. A comparison of genetic traits revealed variations in glycyrrhizin content among lines, ranging from 1.5 to 5.6%, with a mean value of 3.2%; these values are higher than that of the parental plants. Additionally, 25 lines (78.1%) had a glycyrrhizin content greater than 2.5%, which is higher than the reference level set by the Korean Pharmacopoeia. Four of these lines had glycyrrhizin levels higher than the WHO recommended level of 4.0%. A comparison of phenotypic characteristics showed that the leaves of the hybrids possessed all of the characteristics of European and Chinese licorice; however, the stems of most hybrids had characteristics of European licorice. Finally, we determined the genetic distances of 34 samples of Glycyrrhiza plants (parents, 32 $F_1$ lines) by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD); the $F_1$ lines showed a close genetic distance. We plan to develop to a cultivar using five of these lines (glycyrrhizin content < 4.0%).

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2011

Objectives : Genetic analysis and taste pattern were performed to identify species between Glycyrrhiza uralensis and G. glabra which are officially listed in Korean Pharmacopoeia IX as origin of Gamcho(g$\={a}$nc$\v{a}$o, licorice root, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma). Methods : Genetic analysis showed that identification between two species was done by comparing base sequence of ITS(intergenic transcribed spacer) and trnH-psbA regions from eleven Gamchoes sold in market. There was different taste pattern using by taste sensor in Glycyrrhiza uralensis and G. glabra. Results : Genetic analysis showed that six Gamchoes from China were identified as Glycyrrhiza uralensis and five Gamchoes from Uzbekistan were G. glabra. From the results of taste pattern, sourness and astringency of Glycyrrhiza uralensis from China were significantly higher than G. glabra from Uzbekistan, and aftertaste of astringency, aftertaste of umami, and saltiness of Glycyrrhiza uralensis were signicantly low as compared to G. glabra. There is no significant difference between two species in terms of bitterness, aftertaste of bitterness, and umami. Conclusions : Taken together, Glycyrrhiza uralensis from China and G. glabra from Uzbekistan were identified by taste sensor, and this technic could be applied to establishment of taste pattern marker for identification of different species located in various regions.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.481-484
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• 2007

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.309-314
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• 2009

Licorice(Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) is recorded as the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer or Glycyrrhiza glabra Linne or Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat.(Leguminosae) in Korean Pharmacopoeia $9^{th}$ edition (KP9) and Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2005(CP2005), Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer or Glycyrrhiza glabra Linne in Japanese Pharmacopoeia 2005(JP2005). It is established the content standard of Glycyrrhizin 2.5 % and liquiritin 1% in KP9 and CP2005. But, according to the reports, all Licorice species were not sufficient for content standard of liquiritin 1.0% for licorice in KP9 and CP2005. It shows different content of liquiritin among G. uralensis, G. glabra and G. inflata. Also, it was reported liquiritin, liquiritin apioside are transformed into liquiritigenin by human internal flora. Therefore, we have studied for the pre-treatment condition and analytical method of liquiritigenin; It was good efficinet in 2M HCl reflux(1 hr) for hydrolysis and in methylene chloride for solvent fractionation. And 1% acetic acid in DW(A) and acetonitrile(B) with gradient condition as a mobile phase was most effective in HPLC analytical condition. According to these experimental methods, we have anlayzed content of liquiritigenin about 77 Licorice sample. In this research, it was also examined the content of liquiritin and liquiritigenin for Glycyrrhizae Radix related growing area. According to the results, we suggested the content standard of glycyrrhizin more than 2.5%, liquiritigenin more than 0.7%(after hydrolysis) of licorice.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.149-152
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• 1969

Anti-ulcer activity of licorice alkaloid fraction, separated from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. by fractionation according to general alkaloid purification procedure, were studied with various experimental gastric ulcers. In Shay ulcer, licorice alkaloid fraction inhibit significantly response rate and severity of ulcer. But there was no significant changes in volume and pH of gastric contents. A male rat was fixed on a board and immersed up to breast in water of $25^{\circ}C$ for 20 hrs. Hemorrhage and erosion develop in all the animals on the mucosa of the glandular portion of stomach. Licorice alkaloid fraction (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) inhibit significantly in the severity of stress ulcer but there was no changes in the response rate. Chlorpromazine produce marked inhibition in the severity and response rate of ulcer It was suggested that at least the anti-ulcer activity of licorice alkaloid fraction was not mediated by central depression.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 1998

This study was investigated to elucidate the growth characteristics and the contents of glycyrrhizin and free sugars of Glycyrrhiza plants, i. e. G. glabra var. glandulifera, G. uralensis, and G. pallidiflora. The growth of G. glabra var. glandulifera and G. pallidiflora was better in plots planted with stolon and stem over 2cm in diameter compared to that of below 1cm and $1{\sim}2cm$. G. glabra var. glandulifera didn't bloom in Suwon but produced stolon, while G. pallidiflora bloomed but did not produce stolon. Total root weight of six-year-old G. glabra var. glandulifera consisted of stolon (73.2%) and primary root (26. 8 %). The contents of glycyrrhizin and free sugars were highest in stolon, followed by tap root and leaf. The glycyrrhizin contents in Glycyrrhiza plants were 7.38% in G. glabra var. glandulifera, 5.29% in G. uralensis and 0. 15% in G. pallidiflora.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 1969

Antimuscarinic agent like antispasmodic actions of licorice alkaloidal fraction, obtained from the Glycyrrhiza glabra L., was compared with that of atropine quantitatively. For this purpose, the author calculated the kinetic constants and $ED_{50}$ for acetylcholine antagonism by these drugs on rat ileum and guinea-fig ileum longitudinal muscle according to Paton's theoretical equations describing the combination of an antagonist drug with its receptors. The results are as follows. 1. On rat ileum. a) Licorice alkaloidal fraction $K_1$ (association rate constant)=$4.078{\times}10^2\;(s^{-1}\;gm^{-1}\;ml)$ $K_2$ (dissociation rate constant)=$6.986{\times}10^{-4}\;(s^{-1})$ $ED_{50}(K_2/K_1)=1.772{\times}10^{-6}(gm/ml)$ b) Atropine $K_1=5.136{\times}10^6$, $K_2=7.714{\times}10^{-4}$, $ED_{50}=1.408{\times}10^{-10}$ 2. On guinea-pig ileum longitudinal muscle a) Licorice alkaloidal fraction $K_1=1.30{\times}10^2$, $K_2=1.25{\times}10^{-3}$ $ED_{50}=9.58{\times}10^{-6}$ b) Atropine $K_1=5.75{\times}10^6$, $K_2=1.54{\times}10^{-3}$ $ED_{50}=2.68{\times}10^{-10}$ Above results present that 1 r of licorice alkaloidal fraction has equal fotency of acetylcholine antagonism with $8.5{\times}10^{-5}r$ of atropine on rat ileum, $2.8{\times}10^{-5}r$ on guinea-pig ileum longitudinal muscle. This facts suggest that the site and numbers of licorice alkaloid receptors of guinea-pig ileum are different from that of rat ileum. Besides, it also gives a suggestion that licorice alkaloidal fraction may be a partial antagonist on guinea-pig ileum in this experimental conditions.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2018

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Neuroinflammation plays critical role in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated the effect of three licorice varieties, Glycyrhiza uralensis, G. glabra, and Shinwongam (SW) on a mouse model of inflammation-induced memory and cognitive deficit. MATERIALS/METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 2.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and orally administrated G. uralensis, G. glabra, and SW extract (150 mg/kg/day). SW, a new species of licorice in Korea, was combined with G. uralensis and G. glabra. Behavioral tests, including the T-maze, novel object recognition and Morris water maze, were carried out to assess learning and memory. In addition, the expressions of inflammation-related proteins in brain tissue were measured by western blotting. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in spatial and objective recognition memory in LPS-induced cognitive impairment group, as measured by the T-maze and novel object recognition test; however, the administration of licorice ameliorated these deficits. In addition, licorice-treated groups exhibited improved learning and memory ability in the Morris water maze. Furthermore, LPS-injected mice had up-regulated pro-inflammatory proteins, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6, via activation of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF{\kappa}B$) pathways in the brain. However, these were attenuated by following administration of the three licorice varieties. Interestingly, the SW-administered group showed greater inhibition of iNOS and TLR4 when compared with the other licorice varieties. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain of LPS-induced cognitively impaired mice that were administered licorice, with the greatest effect following SW treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The three licorice varieties ameliorated the inflammation-induced cognitive dysfunction by down-regulating inflammatory proteins and up-regulating BDNF. These results suggest that licorice, in particular SW, could be potential therapeutic agents against cognitive impairment.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.584-588
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• 2006

This study was carried out to optimize the conditions for the extraction of antioxidative materials from licorice root, Glycyrrhiz glabra. Chipped licorice roots were extracted with several solvents and their antioxidative activities were tested to determine the optimal extraction solvent. Among the solvents tested, 95% ethanol gave the highest free radical scavenging activity, and was therefore chosen as the optimal extracting solvent. The optimum extraction temperature and time were $20^{\circ}C$ and 12 hr, respectively. Next, the free radical scavenging activity of the ethanol extract was compared with that of other known antioxidants such as ${\alpha}-tocopherol$, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Ethanol extract of licorice root had greater antioxidative activity than ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ and a similar level to that of the two synthetic antioxidants (BHA and BHT). Moreover, the antioxidative activity of the ethanol extract was inhibited neither by heat treatment at $180^{\circ}C$ for 30 min nor by treatment at extreme pH. These findings suggest that ethanol extract of G. glabra may be useful as a natural antioxidant.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.230-238
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• 2023

Glabridin is a well-known active isoflavone found in the root of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) that possess a wide range of biological activity. Plant cells, hairy roots, and fungal endophytes cultures are the most important alternative methods for plant resources conservation and sustainable production of natural compounds, which has received much attention in recent decades. In the present study, an efficient culture condition was optimized for the biomass accumulation and glabridin production from fungal endophyte Aspergillus eucalypticola SBU-11AE isolated from licorice root. Type of culture medium, range of pH, and licorice root extract (as an elicitor) were tested. The results showed that the highest and lowest biomass production was observed on PCB medium (6.43 ± 0.32 g/l) and peptone malt (5.85 + 0.11 g/l), respectively. The medium culture PCB was produced the highest level of glabridin (7.26 ± 0.44 mg/l), while the lowest level (4.47 ± 0.02 mg/l) was obtained from the medium peptone malt. The highest biomass (8.51 ± 0.43 g/l) and glabridin (8.30 ± 0.51 mg/l) production were observed from the PCB medium adjusted with pH = 6, while the lowest value of both traits was obtained from the same medium with pH = 7. The highest production of total glabridin (10.85 ± 0.84 mg/l) was also obtained from the culture medium treated with 100 mg/l of the plant root extract. This information can be interestingly used for the commercialization of glabridin production for further industrial applications.