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Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC.


Botanical Name	:	Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC.
English Name	:	Licorice, Chinese licorice
Family	:	Fabaceae

General Info

Description

Feathery, deciduous perennial growing up to 3’ tall and 18-24” wide. Dense spikes of violet pea-shaped flowers

Herb Effects

Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic, antispasmodic, antitussive, cholagogue, demulcent, emollient, expectorant and laxative (root);

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Chemistry

Active Ingredients

Betulinic acid, glucuronic acid, glycyrrhetic acid, glycyrrhizin, isoliquiritigenin, isoliquiritin, licoricidin, liquiritigenin, liquiritin, mannitol(root)

Chemistry of Active Ingredients

Name

CAS#

IUPAC Name

Formula

Structure

Betulinic acid

4481-62-3

Not Available

C₃₀H₄₆O₃

Glucuronic acid

87246-82-0

(2S,3S,4S,5R)-2,3,4,
5-tetrahydroxy-6-oxo
-hexanoic acid

C₆H₁₀O₇

Glycyrrhetic acid

Not Available

(2S,4aR,6aS,6aS,6bR,
8aS,10S,12aS,14bR)-1
0-hydroxy-2,4a,6a,6b
,9,9,12a-h eptameth
yl-13-oxo-3,4,5,6,6a
,7,8,8a,10,11,12,14b
-dodecahydro-1H-pice
ne -2-carboxylic
acid

C₃₀H₄₆O₄

Glycyrrhizin

53956-04-0

6-[(11-carboxy-4,4,6
a,6b,8a,11,14b-hepta
methyl-14-oxo-2,3,4a
,5,6,7,8,9 ,10,12,1
2a,14a-dodecahydro-1
H-picen-3-yl)oxy]-5-
(6-carboxy-3,4,5-tri
hy droxy-oxan-2-yl)
oxy-3,4-dihydroxy-ox
ane-2-carboxylic
acid

C₄₂H₆₂O₁₆

Isoliquiritigenin

13745-20-5

1-(2,4-dihydroxyphen
yl)-3-(4-hydroxyphen
yl)-prop-2-en-1-one

C₁₅H₁₂O₄

Licoricidin

Not Available

4-[5-hydroxy-7-metho
xy-6-(3-methylbut-2-
enyl)chroman-3-yl]-2
-(3-methyl
but-2-enyl)benzene-1
,3-diol

C₂₆H₃₂O₅

Liquiritigenin

578-86-9

7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydro
xyphenyl)-chroman-4-
one

C₁₅H₁₂O₄

Liquiritin

551-15-5

(2S)-7-hydroxy-2-[4-
[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,
4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hy
droxymethyl)oxan-2-y
l]oxyphenyl]chroman-
4-one

C₂₁H₂₂O₉

Mannitol

85085-15-0

hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-h
exaol

C₆H₁₄O₆

Pharmacology

Medicinal Use

The root is a sweet tonic herb that stimulates the corticosteroidal hormones, neutralizes toxins and balances blood sugar levels. It is used internally in the treatment of Addison's disease, asthma, coughs, peptic ulcers, shortness of breath, lassitude and weakness, poor appetite, epigastric and abdominal pains and loose stools. Externally, it is used to treat acne, boils, ulcers and sore throats.

Contraindication

Should not be prescribed for pregnant women or for people with high blood pressure, kidney disease or anyone taking digoxin-based medications; contraindicated in patients with dampness, stuffiness in the chest, abdominal distension, and vomiting.

Reference

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 344, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.

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