• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.170-175
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• 2000

This study was carried out to compare the quality of licorices from various cultivating areas. licorice samples used in this study were collected from North-east and Sinkiang area in China, Mongolia, Uzvekistan and Kazahstan. The chemical components of licorice samples were analyzed and the signal patterns of the electracts were detected by the electronic nose. Contents of glycyrrhizin and glicyrrhizic acid, the key components of licorice were distributed in the region of 16.7～25.2% and 5.8～10.2%, respectively and were various according to the samples of the collected areas. In glycyrrhizin contents, root of Sinkiang showed the lowest value of 16.7%, and that of North-east the highest of 25.2%. In glycyrrhizic acid contents, root of Sinkiang showed the lowest of 5.8 %, and Kazahstan showed the highest of 10.2 %. Composition ratio of glycyrrhizin to glycyrrhizic acid was not always limear. As other components is other components affecting quality, contents of ash, starch and gums were 2.4～3.7%, 0.2～3.9%, respectively. When the headspace volatiles of licorices were analyzed using Electronic Nose System and the obtained data were interpreted using statistical method of MANOVA, characteristic patterns of licorices were different from each other according to collected area and its p value showed 0.0001. These results suggest that licorices may be discriminated from the collected areas by using Electronic Nose System.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.325-332
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• 2005

The developmental toxicity of water extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) was evaluated in rats. Licorice extract (500, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg) was dissolved in drinking water and orally administered to male rats from 9 weeks before mating to the day of copulation, and to females from 2 weeks before mating to gestational day 19. On gestational day 20, the animals were sacrificed for Cesarian section, and maternal and fetal abnormalities were examined. Licorice extract neither induce clinical signs, nor affect the body weight gain, feed and water intake, estrous cycle, copulation and fertility rates, blood $17\beta-estradiol$ level and organ weights of dams. Also, the implantation and development including body weights, absorption and death of embryos and fetuses were not influenced by in utero exposure to licorice. In addition, there were no increases in external, visceral and skeletal abnormalities of fetuses. Taken together, it is suggested that no observed adverse effect level of licorice extract is higher than 2,000 mg/kg, and that long-term in utero exposure to licorice might not cause developmental toxicities of embryos and fetuses.