Licorice root

The solution was filtered and evaporated in vacuum over concentrated sulfuric acid. The sodium salt is then obtained as a creamy white water-soluble solid. Glycyrrhetinic acid is obtainable from licorice root. 

Nerya O, Vaya J, Musa R, Izrael S, Ben-Arie R and Tamir S. 2003. Glabrene and isoliquiritigenin as tyrosinase inhibitors from licorice roots. J Agric Food Chem 51 1201-1207. 

Acetic acid occurs naturally in many plant species including Merrill flowers Telosma cordata), in which it was detected at a concentration of 2,610 ppm (Furukawa et al., 1993). In addition, acetic acid was detected in cacao seeds (1,520 to 7,100 ppm), celery, blackwood, blueberry juice (0.7 ppm), pineapples, licorice roots (2 ppm), grapes (1,500 to 2,000 ppm), onion bulbs, oats, horse chestnuts, coriander, ginseng, hot peppers, linseed (3,105 to 3,853 ppm), ambrette, and chocolate vines (Duke, 1992). 

Occurs naturally in white sandlewood, sour cherries, peppermint leaves (1-10 ppb), tarragon, asparagus shoots, tea leaves, coffee beans, Japanese privet, tomatoes, licorice roots, and African palm oil (Duke, 1992). 

Chalcones are one of the classes of flavonoids well known for their antiplasmodial properties. Licochalcone A (65), isolated from Chinese licorice roots, was shown to display strong in vitro activity against both chloroquine-susceptible (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) P. falciparum strains it also displayed a strong in vivo acitivity in mice infected with P. yoelii, when administered intraperitoneally or orally for 3 to 6 days. The compound appeared to inhibit the growth of the parasites at all stages (rings, trophozoites, and schizonts). Although licochalcone and some derivatives interred the clinical trials as anti-malarials, none of them have ever made it to the market due to severe toxicity observed in phase II clinical trials. 

Carbenoxolone (B) is a derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid, which occurs in the sap of licorice root (succus Uquiri-tiae). Carbenoxolone stimulates mucus production. At the same time, it has a mineralocorticoid-like action (due to inhibition of 11-p-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) that promotes renal reabsorption of NaCl and water. It may, therefore, exacerbate hypertensioa congestive heart failure, or edemas. It is obsolete. 

Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra) Uses Expectorant, shampoo, GI complaints Action T Mucus secretions, peptic activity, i scalp sebum secretion Available forms Liq ext, bulk dried root, tea 15 g once/d PO of licorice root intake... 

Foundation or J J Enterprizes. An anonymous user provided the ingredients list dandelion root, burdock root, red clover top, chamomile flower, alfalfa leaf, licorice root, slippery elm inner bark, hibiscus flower, dog rose hips, natural fruit flavors. Dandelion root is said to be the effective diuretic. 

The major sweet principle of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), glycyrrhizin (1) (content 4%), has been used as a sweetener and flavor enhancer in foods, tobacco products, and in medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent (Fig. 4). 

Fanali, S., Aturkil, Z., D Orazio, G., Raggi, M. A., Quaglia, M. G., Sabbioni, C., and Rocco, A., Use of nano-liquid chromatography for the analysis of glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid in licorice roots and candies. Journal of Separation Science 28(9-10), 982-986, 2005. 

Licorice root Essential oils rich in thujone... 

Kitagawa, I. et al.. Chemical studies of Chinese licorice-roots. I. Elucidation of five new flavonoid constituents from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra collected in Xinjiang, Chem. Pharm. Bull., 42, 1056, 1994. 

Saitoh, T., Kinoshita, T., and Shibata, S., Flavonols of licorice root, Chem. Pharm. Bull, 24, 1242, 1976. 

Christensen, S.B. et ah. An antileishmanial chalcone from Chinese licorice roots, Planta Med., 60, 121, 1994. 

Hatano T, Kagawa H, Yasuhara T, Okuda T. Two new flavonoids and other constituents in licorice root their relative astringency and radical scavenging effects. Chemical Pharmaceulical Bulletin. 1988 36(6) 2090-2097. 

The basic compound is a triterpene glycoside. It is extracted from the licorice root, of which the principal sources are China, Russia, Spain, Italy, France, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. The roots, containing 10% moisture, are dned and shredded, after which they are extracted with aqueous ammonia, concentrated in vacuum evaporators, precipitated with sulfuric acid, and crystallized with 95% ethyl alcohol. 

TL Lunder, C Nielsen. Determination of glycyrrhizin in licorice roots and extracts by high performance liquid chromatography. Mitteil Geb Lebensm Hyg 71(2) 236-241, 1980. 

Licorice root For the triterpene glycyrrhizin (extracted from the licorice root Glycyr-rhiza radix) the mode of anti-HIV action may be attributed at least in part to interference with virus-cell binding. 

Plant materials often contain triterpenoid saponin in considerable amounts. With regard to plants with antiulcer activity, licorice root contains about 2 to 12% of glycyrrhizic acid and the seeds of the horse chestnut up to 13% of aescin. Several plants containing high amounts have been shown to possess antiulcer activity in several experimental ulcer models (Table 64.2). 

Carbenoxolone derives from the hydrolysis of glycyrrhizinic acid after its extraction from licorice root. Carbenoxolone was the first drug found to accelerate peptic ulcer healing by a mechanism not involving the inhibition of acid secretion. Several mechanisms of action have been proposed as follows to explain the pharmacological activity of carbenoxolone ... 

Ephedra is available in multiple forms. It is a common ingredient in energy boosting bars, sold as Herbal Ecstasy in some health food stores, and is also available as powder that can be mixed with water. Health food stores may sell powdered ephedrine stems, which can be used in a tea, or they may sell infusion, extracts, tinctures, or tablets of ephedra. Health food stores may also sell ephedra as the ma huang herb. Many manufacturers tend to advertise or market ephedra supplements as natural or as a botanical herb, because some consumers equate natural with safe. In China, ephedra may be boiled with cinnamon twig, licorice root, and almond to treat the common cold. 

Some herbs are contraindicated when pregnant because they are thought to have an influence on the uterus. These include barberry, bloodroot, calamus, cascara sagrada, fennel, goldenseal, juniper, lavender, licorice root, male fern, mayapple,... 

Aviram, M., Vaya, J., and Fuhrman, B., Licorice root flavonoid antioxidants reduce LDL oxidation and attenuate cardiovascular diseases, in Herbal medicines Molecular basis of biological activity and health, Packer L., Halliwel B., and Nam Qng, C. (eds.), Marcel Dekker, New York, 27, 595, 2004. 

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