Key aspects of Liquorice and its chemistry

Glycyrrhiza: 

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Greek words: Glycyrrhiza (sweet wood) & glabra (smooth).

• Saponin containing drugs
• Liquorice Root (Radix Glycyrrhizae)
• Origin: the dried unpeeled or peeled roots and stolons of Glycyrrhiza glabra F. Leguminosae (Fabeaceae).

Geographical source:

• It is distributed in the subtropical and warm temperature regions, particular in western china, Mediterranean region of North Africa, Spain, italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, Hungary and south Russia.
• Widely cultivated in Spain, italy, england and France, Russia, Germany and china.

Chemistry

• triterpenoid saponin glycoside: 2-6% glycyrrhizine which is K and Ca salts of glycyrrizinic acid.
• Glycyrrhizic acid / Glycyrrizinic acid = Glycoside of Glycyrrhetic acid
• Flavonoid glycoside: liquiritin and isoliqueritin which give the root its yellow colour.
• Sugars.

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