Rheological Behavior of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) Extract as a Function of Concentration and Temperature: A Critical Reappraisal

Effects of ultrasonic power on drying kinetics and product quality of licorice extract during ultrasound-assisted vacuum drying

BACKGROUND

Licorice extract is an important raw material for food additives and medicine. The quality of licorice extract is dictated by the drying process. The commonly used drying methods of licorice extract are not efficient in obtaining high-quality products so alternative techniques need to be developed and researched. In this study, ultrasound-assisted vacuum drying (UAVD) was first utilized to improve drying efficiency and produce a higher-quality product. The changes in water mobility of licorice extract during drying were characterized using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance. In addition, the effects of ultrasonic power on the drying dynamics, the contents of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid, the antioxidant capacity and the microstructure formation of licorice extract during the whole drying process were investigated.

RESULTS

The drying times for licorice extract to reach equilibrium moisture content were reduced by 9.09-69.70% with UAVD at 40-200 W compared with that without ultrasonic treatment (0 W). Moreover, the proportions of bound water and semi-bound water in fresh concentrate were 3.75% and 96.25%. It was also found that high ultrasonic power promoted the flow of water and the formation of porous structure in licorice extract, which led to the improvement of drying efficiency. The contents of liquiritin (2.444%) and glycyrrhizic acid (6.514%) were retained to a large degree in the dried product at an ultrasonic power of 80 W. The DPPH inhibition rate of UAVD samples with different ultrasonic powers ranged from 84.07 ± 0.46% to 90.65 ± 0.22%.

CONCLUSION

UAVD has the advantages of high efficiency and low energy consumption, which may be an alternative technology for vacuum drying widely used in industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Revisiting liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) as anti-inflammatory, antivirals and immunomodulators: Potential pharmacological applications with mechanistic insight

BACKGROUND

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (G. glabra) commonly known as liquorice is one of the highly exploited and utilized medicinal plant of the world. Since ancient times liquorice is considered as an auspicious and valuable traditional medicine across the world for treatment of various ailments.

METHOD

Several electronic online scientific databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Scifinder, Google Scholar, online books and reports were assessed for collecting information. All the collected information was classified into different sections to meet the objective of the paper.

RESULTS

The electronic database search yielded 3908 articles from different countries. Out of them one ninety-eight articles published between 1956 and 2021 were included, corresponding to all detailed review on G. glabra and research on anti-inflammatories, antivirals and immunomodulatory through pre-clinical and clinical models. From all selective area of studies on G. glabra and its bioactive components it was established (including molecular mechanisms) as a suitable remedy as per the current requirement of pandemic situation arise through respiratory tract infection.

CONCLUSION

Different relevant studies have been thoroughly reviewed to gain an insight on utility of liquorice and its bioactive constituents for anti-inflammatories, antivirals and immunomodulatory effects with special emphasized for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection with possible mechanism of action at molecular level. Proposed directions for future research are also outlined to encourage researchers to find out various mechanistic targets and useful value added products of liquorice in future investigations.