The present study investigated the chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. The ethanol extract of the aerial parts of G. uralensis was separated and purified by different column chromatographies such as macroporous resin, silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20, and through preparative HPLC and recrystallization. Thirteen compounds were isolated and identified as(2S)-6-[(Z)-3-hydroxymethyl-2-butenyl]-5,7,3'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxy-dihydroflavanone(1),(2S)-8-[(E)-3-hydroxymethyl-2-butenyl]-5,7,3',5'-tetrahydroxy-dihydroflavanone(2), α,α'-dihydro-5,4'-dihydroxy-3-acetoxy-2-isopentenylstilbene(3), 6-prenylquercetin(4), 6-prenylquercetin-3-methyl ether(5), formononetin(6), 3,3'-dimethylquercetin(7), chrysoeriol(8), diosmetin(9),(10E,12Z,14E)-9,16-dioxooctadec-10,12,14-trienoic acid(10), 5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-6-prenyl-dihydroflavanone(11), naringenin(12), dibutylphthalate(13). Compounds 1-3 are new compounds, and compounds 10 and 13 are isolated from aerial parts of this plant for the first time.
Glycyrrhiza uralensis/chemistry* ; Plant Components, Aerial/chemistry*

In the present paper,after the febrile rat model was prepared by injecting yeast,orthogonally compatible effective components from prescription drugs of Mahuang Decoction( Ephedra sinica total alkaloids,Cinnamomum cassia essential oil,amygdalin,Glycyrrhiza uralensis total flavonoids+G. uralensis total saponins) with nine different dosage ratios were given by gavage administration.The plasma concentrations of main active ingredients including ephedrine hydrochloride,pseudoephedrine hydrochloride,methylephedrine hydrochloride,cinnamic acid,amygdalin,liquritin and glycyrrhizin at different time points were analyzed by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer( LC-MS). Based on the pharmacokinetic parameters of non-compartmental model,the area under curve of total quantum( AUCt) and the mean chromatographic retention time of total quantum( MRTt) were further calculated,in order to evaluate the effect of compatibility on the total statistical moment parameters. The results showed that the pharmacokinetic characteristics of main active components in febrile rats were significantly different after treatment with orthogonally compatibility of E. sinica total alkaloids,C.cassia essential oil,amygdalin,G. uralensis total flavonoids and G. uralensis total saponins. Orthogonal analysis confirmed that different compatibility components had different effects on the total statistical moment parameters. The contribution of effective components of Mahuang Decoction to AUCtwas as follows in a descending order: E. sinica total alkaloids>C. cassia essential oil>amygdalin>G. uralensis total flavonoids+G. uralensis total saponin,while the contribution to MRTtwas: E. sinica total alkaloids >G. uralensis total flavonoids+G. uralensis total saponin>amygdalin>C. cassia essential oil. The E. sinica total alkaloid had the greatest effects on both of the above parameters,and the optimal combination was A_3B_3C_2D_1 for AUCt,and A_1B_1C_1D_1 for MRTt.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Ephedra sinica ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacokinetics ; Phytochemicals ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats

Thirty-two batches of cultivated and wild Glycyrrhiza uralensis were obtained from three geographical regions. Comparative study of water characteristic components of G. uralensis from three geographical origins was conducted by PCA,OPLS-DA chemical pattern recognition combined with LC-TOF/MS and muti-component analysis. The similarity of fingerprints of 32 batches of medicinal materials ranged from 0. 903 to 0. 999. Patterns recognition could be used to distinguish cultivated G. uralensis in Gansu and Xinjiang areas from cultivated and wild plants in Inner Mongolia. Then a total of thirty-one common constituents were identified by LC-TOF/MS analysis coupled with standard compounds information. The contents of four flavonoid glycosides and five saponins were determinated by HPLC and compared using One-way ANOVA. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the contents of 5 triterpenoid saponins among the three regions,but the contents of 4 flavonoid saponins showed the trend of Inner Mongolia >Gansu≈Xinjiang( P<0. 05). In the same Inner Mongolia region,the contents of 4 flavonoid glycosides and 5 triterpenoid saponins in wild plant was significantly higher than that in cultivated plants( P<0. 01). In addition,the contents of liquiritin,isoliquiritin,licorice-saponin A_3,22β-acetoxyl-glycyrrhizic acid and uralsaponin B in Gansu and Xinjiang were obviously lower than those in Inner Mongolia,but the contents of glycyrrhizic acid,the main component of G. uralensis,were not different in the three geographical regions. In Inner Mongolia,the contents of liquiritin,isoliquiritin,licorice-saponin A_3,licorice-saponin G_2 and glycyrrhizic acid in wild plants were significantly higher than those in cultivated plants. In conclusion,qualitative/quantitative analysis of multi-index components combined with pattern recognition could effectively evaluate the quality of cultivated and wild licorice in different regions. It was helpful for us to understand the reality of licorice in different regions,and provided scientific basis for the development and comprehensive utilization of licorice resources.
China ; Geography ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Saponins ; analysis ; Water

The study was based on the toxic characteristics of the compatibility between "Zaojisuiyuan" and Gancao, with intestinal tract and intestinal bacteria as subject. From the angle of intestinal barrier function, motor function, steady state of intestinal flora and metabolism genes, the toxic and side effects of the compatibility between Qianjinzi and Gancao with similar properties, bases and chemical composition and types were further explored. The results showed that the combined application of Qianjinzi and Gancao enhanced intestinal mucosa damage, and led to abnormal changes in intestinal bacteria structure and metabolic function. It improved the degradation functions of mucus and aromatic amino acids on intestinal bacteria, which may increase the risk of disease and derived from intestinal urotoxin and other toxic substances. This study considered intestinal bacteria as an important target to study the interactions of traditional Chinese medicine. The "drug-intestinal bacteria-metabolism-toxicity" was applied in the experiment. Meanwhile, it provides ideas for exploring incompatible mechanism of traditional Chinese medicines.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; drug effects ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

An experiment was conducted using cultivated Glycyrrhiza uralensis in age of one year to study the effects of abscisic acid (ABA) on chemical components content and color of G. uralensis. By using different concentrations of ABA spraying on leaves, the change of the chemical component content was analyzed within 45 d after ABA stimulation, and the effects on quality were studied combined with colorimetric analysis data. It turned out that in some sense the content of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin had increased within 45 d, especially for liquiritin. After high concentrations of ABA (3.96 mg · L(-1)) stimulating, the content of glycyrrhizic acid rose 52% while liquiritin up 392% within 30 d. Then they both showed a decline in the content of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin on 45 d. Color index values of a* and b* were all significantly higher than that of the control group within 45 d, which meant the color of powders turned toward red and yellow. The conclusion was that ABA (3.96 mg · L(-1)) stimulating could not only improve the quality in the traditional sense through the color of G. uralensis, but also in the modern sense by improving the content of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin.
Abscisic Acid ; pharmacology ; Color ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavanones ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology

In order to obtain the fungicides with minimal impact on efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis, the effect of five fungicides including polyoxins, jinggangmycins, thiophanate methylate, chlorothalonil and carbendazim on the growth of medicinal plant and efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis were studied. Pot cultured Glycyrrhiza uralensis was treated with different fungicides with the concentration that commonly used in the field. 60 d after treated with fungicides, infection rate, infection density, biomass indexes, photosyn- thetic index and the content of active component were measured. Experimental results showed that carbendazim had the strongest inhibition on mycorrhizal symbiosis effect. Carbendazim significantly inhibited the mycorrhizal infection rate, significantly suppressed the actual photosynthetic efficiency of G. uralensis and the most indicators of biomass. Polyoxins showed the lowest inhibiting affection. Polyoxins had no significant effect on mycorrhizal infection rate, the actual photosynthetic efficiency of G. uralensis and the most indicators of biomass. The other three fungicides also had an inhibitory effect on efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis, and the inhibition degrees were all between polyoxins's and carbendazim's. The author considered that fungicide's inhibition degree on mycorrhizal effect might be related with the species of fungicides, so the author suggested that the farmer should try to choose bio-fungicides like polyoxins.
Fungi ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Fungicides, Industrial ; pharmacology ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; growth & development ; microbiology ; physiology ; Mycorrhizae ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Symbiosis ; drug effects

The transplants of one-year-old Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. were subjected to five concentrations of MnSO4-H2O (0, 1.81, 18.1, 36.2 and 54.3 mg·L(-1)) culturing in vermiculite. qRT-PCR and HPLC were respectively used to measure the relative expression of SQS1 gene and the content of glycyrrhizic acid of G. uralensis in different concentrations of MnSO4·H2O. This is to explore discuss the effects of the expression of SQS1 gene and the accumulation of glycyrrhizic acid by Mn treatment. The results showed both the expression of SQS1 gene and the content of glycyrrhzic acid of G. uralensis tended to rise after the fall of the first with the increase of concentration of Mn treatment. And they were of very significant positive correlation (P<0.01, r=0.737). Relative expression of SQS1 gene reached the highest 7.90 under 18.1 mg·L(-1) MnSO4·H2O treatment. It was very significantly different between 18.1 mg·L(-1) concentration of MnSO4·H2O treatment and CK (0 mg·L(-1)), 1.81, 36.2 and 54.3 mg·L(-1) (P<0.01), and 1.75, 1.37, 1.37, 2.33 times respectively. The content of glycyrrhizic acid reached the highest under 1.81 and 18.1 mg·L(-1) MnSO4·H2O treatment, and there were not significant difference (P>0.05). It was very significantly different between them and other concentrations of MnSO4·H2O treatment (P<0.01). This study suggests the appropriate concentration of Mn treatment could certain promote the expression of SQS1 gene and the accumulation of glycyrrhizic acid of G. uralensis.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Genes, Plant ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; genetics ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; Manganese

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis on thioacetamide-induced chonic hepatic fibrosis in rats and the effect on the protein expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and Caspase-3 in livers.

METHODMale Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into totally seven groups: the normal control group, the model group, LF groups s (400, 200, 100, 50 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)) and the silymarin positive control group (30 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)). The hepatic fibrosis model was induced in the rats through intraperitoneal injection with 3% thioacetamide (TAA) at a dose of 150 mg · kg(-1) body weight twice a week for 12 weeks. During the course, the control group and the model group were orally administered with saline (1 mL · kg(-1) · d(-1)). After the modeling and drug intervention, the pathologic changes and fibrosis in liver tissues were observed by HE staining and Masson's Trichrome staining. The serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and liver hydroxyproline (HYP) contents were assayed by biochemical process. The serum hyaluronic acid (HA) was assessed by radioimmunoassay. In addition, the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 were examined by immunohistochemical method. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues was examined by quantitative Real-time PCR analysis.

RESULTCompared with the model group, flavonoids can protect the integrity of the structure of liver tissues, significantly reduce the hepatic cell degeneration and necrosis and the proliferation of fibrous tissues, notably reduce the serum AST, ALT, ALP and HA and HYP in hepatic tissues and down-regulate the protein expressions of liver TGF-β1 and Caspase-3 and the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissues.

CONCLUSIONThe licorice flavonoids can resist the thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and Caspase-3.

Animals ; Caspase 3 ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thioacetamide ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; analysis ; genetics

In order to study the interaction relationship between secondary metabolites in Glycyrrhiza uralensis, and find out which secondary metabolite is significantly related to the content of glycyrrhizic acid, artificial applying ammonium glycyrrhetate solution was used to establish a high glycyrrhizic acid environment. The change of the 4 secondary metabolites was analyzed within 72 h after glycyrrhizic acid stimulation, while correlation statistical soft was applied to analyze the correlation of glycyrrhizic acid and other compositions. It turned out that it is feasible to establish high glycyrrhizic acid environment by glycyrrhizic acid root soaking in the concentration of 1.0 mmol x L(-1). There was significant positive correlation between glycyrrhizic acid and liquorice glycosides in short-term glycyrrhizic acid stimulation environment. It is concluded that glycyrrhizic acid accumulation internal of G. uralensis could be effected by artificial exogenous glycyrrhizic acid stimulation in certain case, and its accumulation was significantly related to the content of liquorice glycosides.
Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; drug effects ; Time Factors

The chromatographic fingerprint was established by eluting with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid water on an Agilent TC-C18 (2) column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). Six chromatographic peaks were identified by HPLC-MS/MS method. Ten batches of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle were determined, and the similarity was arranged from 0.72 to 0.99. Good precision, stability and repeatability were obtained, and this study provides a reference for the quality control of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry