• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.361-366
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• 2014

In this study, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts, with their countries of origin as Korea (Jecheon), Uzbekistan and China, were prepared under various extraction conditions. There were 8 extraction conditions which the licorice were subjected to, and all conditions had different extraction solvents, temperatures and times. Antimicrobial activity on skin flora was evaluated comparatively by a disc diffusion assay, broth macrodilution assay, and kill time curve assay. Based on the antimicrobial activity of their extract confirmed by disc diffusion assay, we established optimal extraction conditions. The Korean licorice extract (85% ethanol, $40^{\circ}C$, 12 h) showed the best activity amongst the samples examined. In particular, its antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes was the highest. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of the licorice extracts revealed that the Korean licorice ($156{\mu}g/ml$ and $1,250{\mu}g/ml$) had better antimicrobial activity than that of the Uzbekistani licorice ($625{\mu}g/ml$ and $2,500{\mu}g/ml$) and the Chinese licorice ($625{\mu}g/ml$ and $5,000{\mu}g/ml$). Taken together, it was shown that Korean licorice extracted in group F (85% ethanol, $40^{\circ}C$, 12 h) had the highest antimicrobial activity amongst the licorices from the other countries of origin. These results also suggest that the optimal extraction conditions are 85% ethanol, $40^{\circ}C$, 12 h, and that licorice has a potential application as a natural preservative in cosmetics products, thereby replacing synthetic preservatives.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.355-360
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• 2006

Antioxidative activity and physicochemical characteristics of heat-treated licorice extracted by ethyl-acetate (EtOAc) and ethyl-alcohol (EtOH) were evaluated at various treatment temperatures (110, 120, 130, 140, and $150^{\circ}C$), times (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hr), and moisture contents (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%). Maximum extraction yields of EtOAc treated at $140^{\circ}C$, 2 hr, and 20% moisture content and EtOH extracts treated at $120^{\circ}C$, 2 hr, and 40% moisture content were 9.48 and 32.90%, whereas those of control were 3.74 and 14.60%, respectively. Highest total polyphenol content was obtained from 13.95 mg/g EtOH extract treated at $150^{\circ}C$, 3 hr, and 30% moisture content (control: 6.92 mg/g). Highest antioxidative activity $(IC_{50})$ was obtained from 0.32 g/L EtOAc treated at $140^{\circ}C$, 2 hr, and 20% moisture content (control: 0.57 g/L). Highest ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant activity value of 2,112.61 mg ascorbic acid (AA) eq was obtained from EtOAc extract treated at $120^{\circ}C$, 2 hr, and 40% moisture content (control: 1,920.27 mg AA eq). Optimum heat treatment conditions were $130-140^{\circ}C$, 3 hr, and 30% moisture content.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.74-78
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• 2008

Liquiritin in licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch) extract was treated with three different plant crude enzymes (Prunus dulcis enzyme; PDE, P. armeniaca enzyme; PAE and P. persica enzyme; PPE) for biotransformation. The resulting product of liquiritin was analyzed by TLC and HPLC. The ${\beta}glucosidase$ activities of crude enzymes were 259.6 U/g (PDE), 407.6 U/g (PAE) and 445.8 U/g (PPE), respectively. The liquiritin was converted to liquiritigenin after 12 hours of incubation with the crude enzymes. Liquiritigenin content reached its maximum level after the treatment with PPE at $37^{\circ}C$.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.386-392
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• 2014

The present study was aimed at investigating the antimicrobial activities of licorice's active ingredients. Four samples of licorice ingredients (glycyrrhizin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, and isoliquiritigenin) were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against six skin microorganisms. The bioassay applied for determining the antimicrobial effects employed a disc diffusion assay, the minimum inhibitory concentration, and the challenge test. The ingredients showed antibacterial activities. Especially, isoliquiritigenin has significant antimicrobial activities against two Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Propionobacterium acnes) and two Gramnegative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. These samples had much higher antimicrobial activities than synthetic preservatives. Our results reveal that liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin could be useful compounds for the development of antibacterial agents for the preservation of cosmetics and foods. The two flavonoids, liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin, sourced from Korea, China, Uzbekistan, were quantified using HPLC. The results demonstrated that Korean licorice has two flavonoids (liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin) in much higher quantities than was observed in the licorice obtained from the two other countries. Thus, isoliquiritigenin and Korean licorice extract represent new candidates for antimicrobial agents.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of ampule containing herbal extract(Ulmus davidiana, Ginkgo biloba, Perilla ocymoides, Morus alba, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice), and Angelica gigas) on skin wrinkles in adult women with facial wrinkles. Methods : A total of 12 women, 30 to 46 years of age, with wrinkles in the corner of eyes, applied ampule containing herbal extract twice daily for up to 12 weeks. Silicon replicas of right crow's feet area and antecubital fossa were taken before use of test product and at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The replicas were analyzed by optical profilometry with Skin Visiometer SV600. The wrinkle and roughness parameters, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 were calculated and statistically analyzed. In addition, a subjective evaluation of product efficacy was conducted by patient's assessment. Results : The mean values of all the skin roughness parameters were decreased at 4-week, and decreased significantly at 8 and 12-week except R4 at 12-week after test product use. The subjective evaluation of wrinkle by patient's assessment was also improved. However, one patient noted stiffness of face after use of test product. Conclusions : These study suggested that the application of ampule containing herbal extract twice daily for 12 weeks may effectively improve the facial wrinkles without severe side effect.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2017

Traditional Korean fermented herbal plants are potential sources of new food that promote health, but they are still produced by yeast, fungi or bacteria fermentation. In the present work, mushroom (Paecilomyces tenuipes and Cordyceps militaris) fungal dongchunghacho were used to fermented Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer (licorice) or mixed with pupa. The pupa were tested as solid substrates for the production of corcycepin, liquiritin, and liquiritigenin. The fermented substrates were analyzed the content of cordycepin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, and glycirrhizin productivity and inhibitory activity of NO. The cordycepin content of 70% EtOH extract from the fermented mixture of licorice and 50% pupa with C. militaris increased maximum at 33 times. Pupa was very excellent for the production of cordycepin. The liquiritin content was decreased in all the assays inoculated with P. tenuipes and C. militaris dongchunghachos. The liquiritigenin content was higher when fermented with P. tenuipes than C. militaris. The addition of pupa significantly reduced the liquiritin content and glycyrrhizin production. As a result, the liquiritigenin content increased in fermented P. tenuipes and C. militaris, and liquiritin and glycyrrhizin decreased. The inhibition of NO production in the different ethanolic extracts fermented with licorice and pupa was also significantly increased and higher than that of a nonfermented extract in higher polar solvent extracts. The contents of cordycepin and biological active compounds were altered in accordance with the concentration of pupa and fungi. This study provides basic data for use in developing dongchunghacho fungi as a functional food resource.