LIQUIRITIAE RADIX AND POSSIBLE SUBSTITUENTS – COMPARATIVE LC/MS ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC FLAVONOIDS
Abstract:
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra. L) has been used since ancient times in order to treat gastric
ulcers. The major active compounds are saponins and flavonoids. They are responsible for several other
properties of the extracts: antibacterial, antiviral, depigmenting. The roots of the plant deposit these
complex substances. Radix vegetal products may be easily substituted, making difficult their
identification in absence of other vegetative organs such as leaves, flowers or fruits. Glycyrrhiza
echinata L. is widerly spread in Romania than the consecrated medicinal species G. glabra. The aim of
this study is to determine whether the roots of the two species have similar flavonoid characteristics,
using Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS), a sensitive analysis method. The
phytochemistry of licorice roots differs from that of G. echinata roots. The two are not equivalent. G.
echinata roots lack the specific compounds correlated to the therapeutic activity of licorice.
full text article in English (.EN) |