Identification of two licorice species, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Glycyrrhiza glabra, based on separation and identification of their bioactive components

The purpose of this study was to identify two licorice species, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Glycyrrhiza glabra. A simple method including HPLC and LC/MS was developed to simultaneously separate, identify, and quantify 15 bioactive components of Glycyrrhiza species. G. uralensis was found to contain quercetin but G. glabra did not. G. glabra provided by Brion Research Institute of Taiwan contained uralsaponin B, but G. glabra brought from herbal shops did not. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of G. uralensis and G. glabra achieved approximately 72–75% if 10 mg/mL or more licorice extract was used. G. uralensis had slightly better radical scavenging activity than G. glabra. G. uralensis also showed higher reducing ability than G. glabra.