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Lu Z, Hai C, Yan S, Xu L, Lu D, Sou Y, Chen H, Yang X, Fu H, Yang J. Chemistry Combining Elemental Profile, Stable Isotopic Ratios, and Chemometrics for Fine Classification of a Chinese Herb Licorice ( Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) from 37 Producing Area. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL METHODS IN CHEMISTRY 2022; 2022:8906305. [PMID: 36032189 PMCID: PMC9410990 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8906305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A method based on elemental fingerprint, stable isotopic analysis and combined with chemometrics was proposed to trace the geographical origins of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch) from 37 producing areas. For elemental fingerprint, the levels of 15 elements, including Ca, Cu, Mg, Pb, Zn, Sr, Mn, Se, Cd, Fe, Na, Al, Cr, Co, and K, were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Three stable isotopes, including δ 13C, δ 15N, and δ 18O, were measured using an isotope-ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). For fine classification, three multiclass strategies, including the traditional one-versus-rest (OVR) and one-versus-one (OVO) strategies and a new ensemble strategy (ES), were combined with two binary classifiers, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) and least squares support vector machines (LS-SVM). As a result, ES-PLSDA and ES-LS-SVM achieved 0.929 and 0.921 classification accuracy of GUF samples from the 37 origins. The results show that element fingerprint and stable isotope combined with chemometrics is an effective method for GUF traceability and provides a new idea for the geographical traceability of Chinese herbal medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongying Lu
- Department of Food Engineering, Guizhou Vocational College of Foodstuff Engineering, Guiyang 551400, China
| | - Chengying Hai
- The Modernization Engineering Technology Research Center of Ethnic Minority Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Pharmacy, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Simin Yan
- Shanghai Institute of Quality Inspection and Technical Research, Shanghai 201114, China
| | - Lu Xu
- College of Material and Chemical Engineering, Tongren University, Tongren 554300, Guizhou, China
| | - Daowang Lu
- College of Material and Chemical Engineering, Tongren University, Tongren 554300, Guizhou, China
| | - Yixin Sou
- The Modernization Engineering Technology Research Center of Ethnic Minority Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Pharmacy, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hengye Chen
- The Modernization Engineering Technology Research Center of Ethnic Minority Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Pharmacy, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xiaolong Yang
- The Modernization Engineering Technology Research Center of Ethnic Minority Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Pharmacy, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Haiyan Fu
- The Modernization Engineering Technology Research Center of Ethnic Minority Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Pharmacy, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Jian Yang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijng 100700, China
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Hosseini MS, Ebrahimi M, Samsampour D, Abadía J, Khanahmadi M, Amirian R, Ghafoori IN, Ghaderi-Zefrehei M, Gogorcena Y. Association analysis and molecular tagging of phytochemicals in the endangered medicinal plant licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.). PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2021; 183:112629. [PMID: 33516043 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) is a medicinal plant species valued in many countries in Asia and Europe for its phytochemical characteristics. Licorice biodiversity is becoming threatened nowadays in Iran due to increasing demand and a drastic decline of its natural habitats. Therefore, licorice domestication would be necessary in the near future, and molecular breeding would help to introduce genotypes suitable for cultivation. The present study was carried out with 170 individual licorice plants sampled in the wild in 59 localizations in 21 provinces of Iran. The association of 436 polymorphic AFLP markers, produced by 15 primer combinations (EcoRI/MseI), with six phenotypic phytochemical traits was studied. The AMOVA analysis show gene diversity among and within localizations. The population structure analysis identified two main sub-populations with significant genetic variation. Significant associations were identified between three markers (E3/M40-4, E34/M4-12 and E12/M31-15) and glycyrrhizin concentration, and between four markers (E11/M34-12, E11/M34-15, E9/M7-29, and E9/M7-30) and phenolic compounds contents. Markers detected can be useful in the domestication of licorice as well as in breeding programs. Licorice sampled in four localizations (KBA1, KBA2, SKh2 and Fa1) were found to be superior in terms of glycyrrhizin and antioxidants content, and therefore they can be considered as elite genotypes which could be included in the domestication process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Sadat Hosseini
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran - Isfahan Branch, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), P.O. Box 85135-487, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Hormozgan, P.O.Box, 3995, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
| | - Morteza Ebrahimi
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran - Isfahan Branch, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), P.O. Box 85135-487, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Davood Samsampour
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Hormozgan, P.O.Box, 3995, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
| | - Javier Abadía
- Department of Plant Nutrition, Aula Dei Experimental Station (CSIC), P.O. Box 13034, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Morteza Khanahmadi
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran - Isfahan Branch, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), P.O. Box 85135-487, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Rasool Amirian
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran - Isfahan Branch, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), P.O. Box 85135-487, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Iman Naseh Ghafoori
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran - Isfahan Branch, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), P.O. Box 85135-487, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Mostafa Ghaderi-Zefrehei
- Department of Genetic and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, P.O. Box 75918-74831, Yasouj, Iran.
| | - Yolanda Gogorcena
- Department of Pomology, Aula Dei Experimental Station (CSIC), P.O. Box 13034, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain.
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Tsuge A, Hisaka S, Hayashi H, Nose M. Effect of hot water extract of a glycyrrhizin-deficient strain of Glycyrrhiza uralensis on contact hypersensitivity in mice. J Nat Med 2020; 74:415-420. [PMID: 31916003 DOI: 10.1007/s11418-019-01386-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate the medicinal properties of a glycyrrhizin (GL)-deficient strain of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, we investigated the anti-allergic effect of the hot water extract obtained from its roots on contact hypersensitivity in mice, and compared it with that of the hot water extract of a commercial crude drug, Glycyrrhiza Radix. The hot water root extract of the GL-deficient strain contained glucoglycyrrhizin (GGL) and rhaoglucoglycyrrhizin (RGL) instead of GL, and it showed anti-allergic activity against contact hypersensitivity in a fashion similar to that of the crude drug extract. We further confirmed the presence of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a major metabolite of GL, in mice serum after oral administration of the hot water root extract of a GL-deficient strain. We demonstrated that GGL underwent hydrolysis by intestinal microflora of mice to form GA. These results suggest that a GL-deficient strain of G. uralensis is a useful medicinal resource since the glycosides of GA work in a fashion similar to that of GL when orally administered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Tsuge
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Graduate School of Pharmacy, Meijo University, 150 Yagotoyama, Tempaku-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 468-8503, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Hisaka
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Graduate School of Pharmacy, Meijo University, 150 Yagotoyama, Tempaku-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 468-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Hayashi
- Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiko Nose
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Graduate School of Pharmacy, Meijo University, 150 Yagotoyama, Tempaku-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 468-8503, Japan.
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Nomura Y, Seki H, Suzuki T, Ohyama K, Mizutani M, Kaku T, Tamura K, Ono E, Horikawa M, Sudo H, Hayashi H, Saito K, Muranaka T. Functional specialization of UDP-glycosyltransferase 73P12 in licorice to produce a sweet triterpenoid saponin, glycyrrhizin. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 99:1127-1143. [PMID: 31095780 PMCID: PMC6851746 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Glycyrrhizin, a sweet triterpenoid saponin found in the roots and stolons of Glycyrrhiza species (licorice), is an important active ingredient in traditional herbal medicine. We previously identified two cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, CYP88D6 and CYP72A154, that produce an aglycone of glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, in Glycyrrhiza uralensis. The sugar moiety of glycyrrhizin, which is composed of two glucuronic acids, makes it sweet and reduces its side-effects. Here, we report that UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) 73P12 catalyzes the second glucuronosylation as the final step of glycyrrhizin biosynthesis in G. uralensis; the UGT73P12 produced glycyrrhizin by transferring a glucuronosyl moiety of UDP-glucuronic acid to glycyrrhetinic acid 3-O-monoglucuronide. We also obtained a natural variant of UGT73P12 from a glycyrrhizin-deficient (83-555) strain of G. uralensis. The natural variant showed loss of specificity for UDP-glucuronic acid and resulted in the production of an alternative saponin, glucoglycyrrhizin. These results are consistent with the chemical phenotype of the 83-555 strain, and suggest the contribution of UGT73P12 to glycyrrhizin biosynthesis in planta. Furthermore, we identified Arg32 as the essential residue of UGT73P12 that provides high specificity for UDP-glucuronic acid. These results strongly suggest the existence of an electrostatic interaction between the positively charged Arg32 and the negatively charged carboxy group of UDP-glucuronic acid. The functional arginine residue and resultant specificity for UDP-glucuronic acid are unique to UGT73P12 in the UGT73P subfamily. Our findings demonstrate the functional specialization of UGT73P12 for glycyrrhizin biosynthesis during divergent evolution, and provide mechanistic insights into UDP-sugar selectivity for the rational engineering of sweet triterpenoid saponins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhta Nomura
- Department of BiotechnologyGraduate School of EngineeringOsaka University2‐1 YamadaokaSuitaOsaka565‐0871Japan
- Present address:
RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science2‐1 HirosawaWakoSaitama351‐0198Japan
| | - Hikaru Seki
- Department of BiotechnologyGraduate School of EngineeringOsaka University2‐1 YamadaokaSuitaOsaka565‐0871Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science1‐7‐22 Suehiro‐cho, Tsurumi‐kuYokohamaKanagawa230‐0045Japan
| | - Tomonori Suzuki
- Department of BiotechnologyGraduate School of EngineeringOsaka University2‐1 YamadaokaSuitaOsaka565‐0871Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Ohyama
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science1‐7‐22 Suehiro‐cho, Tsurumi‐kuYokohamaKanagawa230‐0045Japan
- Department of Chemistry and Materials ScienceTokyo Institute of Technology2‐12‐1 O‐okayama, Meguro‐kuTokyo152‐8551Japan
| | - Masaharu Mizutani
- Graduate School of Agricultural ScienceKobe University1‐1 Rokkodai‐cho, Nada‐kuKobeHyogo657‐8501Japan
| | - Tomomi Kaku
- Department of BiotechnologyGraduate School of EngineeringOsaka University2‐1 YamadaokaSuitaOsaka565‐0871Japan
| | - Keita Tamura
- Department of BiotechnologyGraduate School of EngineeringOsaka University2‐1 YamadaokaSuitaOsaka565‐0871Japan
| | - Eiichiro Ono
- Suntory Global Innovation Center LtdResearch Institute8‐1‐1 Seikadai, Seika‐cho, Soraku‐gunKyoto619‐0284Japan
| | - Manabu Horikawa
- Suntory Foundation for Life SciencesBioorganic Research Institute8‐1‐1 Seikadai, Seika‐cho, Soraku‐gunKyoto619‐0284Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sudo
- Tokiwa Phytochemical Co., Ltd158 KinokoSakuraChiba285‐0801Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical SciencesChiba University1‐8‐1 Inohana, Chuo‐kuChiba260‐8675Japan
| | - Hiroaki Hayashi
- School of PharmacyIwate Medical University2‐1‐1 NishitokutaYahaba, Iwate028‐3694Japan
| | - Kazuki Saito
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science1‐7‐22 Suehiro‐cho, Tsurumi‐kuYokohamaKanagawa230‐0045Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical SciencesChiba University1‐8‐1 Inohana, Chuo‐kuChiba260‐8675Japan
| | - Toshiya Muranaka
- Department of BiotechnologyGraduate School of EngineeringOsaka University2‐1 YamadaokaSuitaOsaka565‐0871Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science1‐7‐22 Suehiro‐cho, Tsurumi‐kuYokohamaKanagawa230‐0045Japan
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Seki H, Tamura K, Muranaka T. Plant-derived isoprenoid sweeteners: recent progress in biosynthetic gene discovery and perspectives on microbial production. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2018; 82:927-934. [DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2017.1387514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Increased public awareness of negative health effects associated with excess sugar consumption has triggered increasing interest in plant-derived natural sweeteners. Steviol glycosides are a group of highly sweet diterpene glycosides contained in the leaves of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana). Mogrosides, extracted from monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii), are a group of cucurbitane-type triterpenoid glycosides. Glycyrrhizin is an oleanane-type triterpenoid glycoside derived from the underground parts of Glycyrrhiza plants (licorice). This review focuses on the natural isoprenoid sweetening agents steviol glycosides, mogrosides, and glycyrrhizin, and describes recent progress in gene discovery and elucidation of the catalytic functions of their biosynthetic enzymes. Recently, remarkable progress has been made in engineering the production of various plant-specialized metabolites in microbial hosts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae via the introduction of biosynthetic enzyme genes. Perspectives on the microbial production of plant-derived natural sweeteners are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Seki
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Keita Tamura
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Toshiya Muranaka
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
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Yu F, Wang Q, Wei S, Wang D, Fang Y, Liu F, Zhao Z, Hou J, Wang W. Effect of Genotype and Environment on Five Bioactive Components of Cultivated Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) Populations in Northern China. Biol Pharm Bull 2015; 38:75-81. [DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b14-00574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fulai Yu
- School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
- Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences
| | - Qiuling Wang
- School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
| | - Shengli Wei
- School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
| | - Dan Wang
- Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences
| | - Yuqiang Fang
- School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
| | - Fengbo Liu
- School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
| | - Zhigang Zhao
- School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
| | - Junling Hou
- School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
| | - Wenquan Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
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Ozaki K, Shibano M. Aim for production of Glycyrrhizae Radix in Japan (3): development of a new licorice cultivar. J Nat Med 2013; 68:358-62. [PMID: 24293363 DOI: 10.1007/s11418-013-0807-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The development of cultivars is indispensable for the establishment of a method aimed at producing licorice in Japan. The cultivar should have the following attributes: (1) the underground parts should grow vigorously; (2) the glycyrrhizin (GL) content must be 2.5 % or greater; and (3) the architecture of the aerial parts should be erect. A new cultivar suitable for the domestic production of licorice was developed by crossbreeding between strain A-19 (with a high GL content) as the mother and strain G-6 (with vigorous growth) as the father. After 2 years of cultivation, strain C-2 exhibited vigorous growth; the fresh weight and stem diameter were 148.8 g and 0.89 mm, respectively. Moreover, the dry-weight GL and total flavonoid contents of the new cultivar (strain C-2) from cultured plants were 3.61 and 1.365 %, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Ozaki
- Takeda Garden for Medicinal Plant Conservation, Kyoto, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., Ichijoji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8134, Japan,
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Ramilowski JA, Sawai S, Seki H, Mochida K, Yoshida T, Sakurai T, Muranaka T, Saito K, Daub CO. Glycyrrhiza uralensis transcriptome landscape and study of phytochemicals. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 54:697-710. [PMID: 23589666 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pct057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Medicinal and industrial properties of phytochemicals (e.g. glycyrrhizin) from the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice plant) made it an attractive, multimillion-dollar trade item. Bioengineering is one of the solutions to overcome such high market demand and to protect plants from extinction. Unfortunately, limited genomic information on medicinal plants restricts their research and thus biosynthetic mechanisms of many important phytochemicals are still poorly understood. In this work we utilized the de novo (no reference genome sequence available) assembly of Illumina RNA-Seq data to study the transcriptome of the licorice plant. Our analysis is based on sequencing results of libraries constructed from samples belonging to different tissues (root and leaf) and collected in different seasons and from two distinct strains (low and high glycyrrhizin producers). We provide functional annotations and the expression profile of 43,882 assembled unigenes, which are suitable for various further studies. Here, we searched for G. uralensis-specific enzymes involved in isoflavonoid biosynthesis as well as elucidated putative cytochrome P450 enzymes and putative vacuolar saponin transporters involved in glycyrrhizin production in the licorice root. To disseminate the data and the analysis results, we constructed a publicly available G. uralensis database. This work will contribute to a better understanding of the biosynthetic pathways of secondary metabolites in licorice plants, and possibly in other medicinal plants, and will provide an important resource to further advance transcriptomic studies in legumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan A Ramilowski
- RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (Division of Genomic Technologies), RIKEN Yokohama Institute, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, 230-0045 Japan.
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Kondo K, Shiba M, Nakamura R, Morota T, Shoyama Y. Constituent Properties of Licorices Derived from Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. glabra, or G. inflata Identified by Genetic Information. Biol Pharm Bull 2007; 30:1271-7. [PMID: 17603166 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.30.1271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Constituent properties of licorices derived from Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. glabra, and G. inflata are revealed by comparing 117 of licorice identified using four genetic markers; internal tracscribed spacer (ITS) on nuclear ribosomal DNA, rbcL gene, matK gene, and trnH-trnK1 intergenic region on chloroplast DNA. Regarding six main constituents of licorice; glycyrrhizin, liquiritin, liquiritin apioside, isoliquiritin, isoliquiritin apioside, and liquiritigenin, the constituent property of G. glabra resembles to that of G. inflata. On the other hand, the constituent property of G. uralensis is not similar to that of G. glabra or G. inflata and is characterized by a wide content variation of the six constituents compared to those of G. glabra and/or G. inflata. The mean contents of liquiritin, isoliquiritin, or liquilitigenin in G. uralensis are significantly higher than those of G. glabra or G. inflata. Therefore, the licorice species should be selected depending on these constituent properties for the traditional Chinese medicines or the Japanese Kampo medicines. Additionally, glycycoumarin, glabridin, and licochalcone A were reconfirmed as the species-specific typical constituents of G. uralensis, G. glabra, and G. inflata respectively. Therefore, it is resulted that the determination of the three species-specific constituents may be useful for the species identification of licorice. However, since 6% of licorice examined and hybrids were exceptions to the rule, their genetic information is necessary for the accurate species identification of licorice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Kondo
- Botanical Raw Materials Research Dept., Tsumura & Co., Ibaraki, Japan.
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