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Glycyrrhiza
Glycyrrhiza
甘草
Market name:甘草
Photo location:Museum of Materia Medica, Inst. of Nat. Med.
TMPW No.:9351
Glycyrrhiza uralensis
Plant name:Glycyrrhiza uralensis
Photo location:Mongolia
Photo date:2001
Photographer:K. Komatsu

Synonym  
Latin name Glycyrrhizae Radix
Botanical source: Family name Leguminosae
Botanical source: Plant name - Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer ex De Candolle (IPNI:496974-1)
- Glycyrrhiza glabra Linné (IPNI:496941-1)
Part used Root and stolon
Empirical criteria for quality selection Good one has thick, dense roots which are bright yellow inside. It is very sweet (TN).
Constituents Triterpenoids:
[G. glabra]: Carbenoxolone

Triterpenoid saponins:
Glycyrrhizin (Glycyrrhizic acid)(4-12%), 23-Hydroxyglycyrrhetic acid, 24-Hydroxyglycyrrhetic acid, 11-Deoxyglycyrrhetic acid, 24-Hydroxy-11-deoxyglycyrrhetic acid, Uralenic acid, Glycyrretol, Liquiritic acid, Glabric acid, Glabrolide, Deoxyglabrolide, Isoglabrolide, 21α-Hydroxyisoglabrolide, Liquiridioic acid, Liquoric acid;
[G. glabra]: Glycyrrhizin;
the following compounts are metabolites:
18β-Glycyrrhetic acid, 18α-Glycyrrhetic acid, 3-Epi-18β-glycyrrhetic acid, 3-Dehydro-18β-glycyrrhetic acid, 3-Dehydro-18α-glycyrrhetic acid, 3-Keto-18β-glycyrrhetic acid, 3-Keto-18α-glycyrrhetic acid, 3α-Hydroxyglycyrrhetic acid, 3α-Hydroxy-18α-glycyrrhetic acid, 3β-Hydroxyglycyrrhetic acid, 3-Oxo-18β-glycyrrhetic acid, 22α-Hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetic acid, 24-Hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetic acid, 22α-Hydroxy-3-oxo-18β-glycyrrhetic acid, 24-Hydroxy-3-oxo-18β-glycyrrhetic acid, 22α-Hydroxy-3-epi-18β-Glycyrrhetic acid, 24-Hydroxy-3-epi-18β-Glycyrrhetic acid, 3-O-Acetyl-22α-hydroxyglycyrrhetic acid

Flavonoids:
Licoflavone A, Kumatakenin

Flavanones & Dihydroflavonols:
Liquiritin, Liquiritigenin;
[G. glabra]: Neoliquiritin, Rhamnoliquiritin

Isoflavones:
Formononetin, Licoricone, 2-methyl-7-hydroxyisoflavone, Glabrone

Chalcones, Dihydrochalcones &
Aurones: Isoliquiritin, Isoliquiritigenin;
[G. glabra]: Neoisoliquiritin, Licuraside, Rhamnoisoliquiritin, Licochalcone A, Licochalcone B

Coumarins:
Glycyrol, Isoglycyrol, Glycyrin

Other aromatic derivatives:
Licoricidin, Glabrene
Pharmacological effects Inhibition of digestive ulcer, suppression of the secretion of gastric juices, spasmolysis, antitussive, adrenocortical hormone like effect (extract). Antiinflammatory, and antiallergic effects (glycyrrhizin).
Indications As an emollient, painkiller, antitussive, expectorant and antidote, it is applied to treat stomachache, myalgia, convulsion, pharyngitis, rheumatism, arthritis, allergy, peptic ulcer and addisonism. It is the raw material of glycyrrhizin and corrigent.
Diseases Swelling and pain of the throat, Cough, Palpitation, Anorexia, Pyogenic dermatosis, Gastric ulcer
Formulas anchusan , anchusankabukuryo , ireito , uzukeishito , uzuto , uyakujunkisan , ureitsukisan , unkeito , untanto , eppikajutsuto , eppikajutsubuto , eppikahangeto , eppito , ogikenchuto , ogibekkoto , ogonkahangeshokyoto , ogonto , odoto , orento , otsujito , otsujitokyodaio , ompito , kaikyushokushoto , kairosan , kagaisan , kagenryokakusan (asada) , kagenryokakusan (kyoteiken) , kashokuyohito , kakkoshokisan , kakkon'oren'ogonto , kakkonkajutsubuto , kakkonkahangeto , kakkonkokato , kakkonto , kakkontokasenkyushin'i , kamiuntanto , kamikihito , kamigedokuto , kamishoyosan , kamishoyosankasenkyujio , kamiheiisan , karogaihakuto , karokijitsuto , karokeishito , kanzokankyoto , kanzoshashinto , kanzoto , kanzobushito , kanzomaoto , kambakutaisoto , kanroin , kikyoto , kigikenchuto , kishukunichinto , kippichikujoto , kihito , kyukikyogaito , kyukichoketsuin , kyukichoketsuindaiichikagen , kyoseihatekigan , kyososan , kufugedokusan , kumibinroto , keigairengyoto , keikyososooshimbuto , keishieppito , keishikaogito , keishikakakkonto , keishikakeito , keishikakobokukyoninto , keishikashakuyakushokyoninjinto , keishikashakuyakudaioto , keishikashakuyakuto , keishikajutsubuto , keishikabushito , keishikaryukotsuboreito , keishikaryojutsubuto , keishikanzoto , keishikanzoryukotsuboreito , keishikyokeikabukuryobyakujutsuto , keishikyoshakuyakukashokushitsuryukotsuboreito , keishikyoshakuyakuto , keishishakuyakuchimoto , keishito , keishinieppiitto , keishinieppiittokajutsubu , keishininjinto , keishibushito , keihito , keibohaidokusan , keimakakuhanto , kenchuto , gedaishimotsutokami , koshaheiisan , koshayoito , kosharikkunshito , kojito , kososan , kobokushichimotsuto , kobokushokyohangeninjinkanzoto , gokoto , goshakusan , gorinsan , saikatsugekito , saikatsutokasenkyushin'i , saikanto , saikyohangeto , saikokaboshoto , saikokaryukotsuboreito , saikokikitsuto , saikokeishikankyoto , saikokeishito , saikoseikanto , saikosokanto , saishakurikkunshito , saisoin , saibokuto , saireito , sansoninto , shigyakukaninjinto , shigyakusan , shigyakuto , shikunshito , shikonboreito , shishihakuhito , shakuyakukanzoto , shakuyakukanzobushito , shakosaito , shakkan'oshimbuto , shokyoshashinto , shokenchuto , shosaikoto , shosaikotokakikyosekko , shoseiryuto , shoseiryutokakyoninsekko , shoseiryutokasekko , shozokumeito , shobaito , shofusan , shomakakkonto , shoyosan , shimpito , jiinkokato , jiinshihoto , jijinmeimokuto , juzentaihoto , jumihaidokuto , jurokumiryukiin , junchoto , jogan'ippo , jofuto , jingyokyokatsuto , jingyobofuto , jinsoin , jinryobyakujutsusan , seikiankaito , seishitsuketanto , seishoekkito , seishinrenshiin , seijokentsuto , seijobofuto , seinetsuhokito , seihaito , senkanmeimokuto , senkyuchachosan , senkin'naitakusan , sempukukataishasekito , zenshikunshito , zenshibyakujutsusan , sokeikakketsuto , soshikokito , zokumeito , daiokanzoto , daiseiryuto , daibofuto , chikujountanto , chikuyosekkoto , chukenchuto , choijokito , chokoshiteito , chotosan , jidabokuippo , jizusoippo , jizusoippokyodaio , tsudosan , tsumyakushigyakukachotanjuto , tsumyakushigyakuto , teikiin , tokakujokito , tokiinshi , tokikenchuto , tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto , tokishigyakuto , tokito , toryuto , dokkatsukakkonto , dokkatsuto , nijutsuto , nichinto , nyoshinsan , ninjinto , ninjin'yoeito , hainosankyuto , hainoto , hachigesan , hangesankyuto , hangeshashinto , bakumondoto , byakujutsubushito , byakkokakeishito , byakkokaninjinto , byakkoto , fukankinshokisan , fuhishomyakusan , bukuryokanzoto , bukuryokyoninkanzoto , bukuryoshigyakuto , bukuryotakushato , bushikobeito , bushirichuto , bunshinkiin , heiisan , henseishinkiin , hochuekkito , hontonto (kinkiyoryaku) , hontonto (chugoho) , boiogito , boibukuryoto , bofutsushosan , maokajutsuto , maoto , maobushikanzoto , maorenshoshakushozuto , makyokansekito , makyoyokukanto , meiroin , yokuininto , yokukankashakuyaku , yokukansan , yokukansankashakuyakuoren , yokukansankachimpihange , rikkunshito , rikkosan , ryutanshakanto , ryokakusan , ryokankyomishingeninto , ryokito , ryokyojutsukanto , ryokeikansoto , ryokeijutsukanto , ryokeimikanto , reitakutsukito , reitakutsukitokashin'i , renjuin
Meridian tropism Twelve meridians
Property Neutral
Flavor Sweet
Classification in "Shen-non Ben-cao Jing" Superior
TCM: Classification Tonics (Drugs for replenishing Qi [vital energy])
TCM: Medicinal effects To reinforce the function of the spleen and replenish qi, remove heat and counteract toxicity, dispel phlegm and relieve cough, alleviate spasmodic pain, moderate drug actions, restore the normal cardiac rhythm.: For cough with much phlegm, spasmodic pain in the epigastrium, abdomen and limb, carbuncles and sores. Reducing the toxic or drastic actions of the drugs.
Remarks Listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18th ed.
Xinjiang Glycyrrhiza, the root or stolon of G. inflata Batal, is used for extracting and isolating glycyrrhizin.
Raw or honey dipped fragments of Gancao are roasted, which are called Zhigancao. Gancao clears away heat and toxins well, whereas Zhigancao is strong in invigorating the spleen and replenishing qi (vital energy).
Gancao is the most frequently used crude drug in Kampo formulations. Gancao extract is in high demand as a condiment for cigarette, soy sauce and other foods.
Because of the action of its mineralcorticoids, long-term and massive use (over 50g/day) may lead to hypokalemia, hypernatremia, edema, high blood pressure and heart disorders. In extreme cases, it causes pseudoaldosteronism.
References TN: T. Namba & Y. Tsuda ed., Outline of Pharmacognosy, a Textbook, 3rd ed., Nankodo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 1998.
DNA sequences of medicinal plants
Gene Region
Nuclear Chloroplast Mitochondria
Botanical source: Plant name 5Ss 18S ITS1 5.8S ITS2 26S others trnH-psbA matK trnK trnK-rps16 trnT-L trnL trnL-F rbcL rpoC1 ndhF others
Glycyrrhiza glabra Linné (IPNI:496941-1)
lectin
 HQ337023
RAPD marker
  HQ883981
lectin1
  AJ234388
lectin2
  AJ234389
Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer ex De Candolle (IPNI:496974-1)
P450
 AY870908
 AY870909
PIP1
  EU262597
SQS1
  EU851906
 EU851907
 EU851908
 EU851909
 

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Section of Pharmacognosy,
Division of Medicinal Resources,
Department of Research and Development,
Institute of Natural Medicine,
University of Toyama
2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194 Japan
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