Gao Xueyan, Wang Wenquan, Wei Shengli, Li Weidong
Institute of Chinese Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100102, China.
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2009 Nov;34(21):2695-700.
Glycyrrhiza Radix is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine, derived from the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. glabra and G. inflata. The main bioactive constituents of licorice are triterpene saponins and flavonoids. There are various types of pharmacological properties of licorice are proved, including antiulcer, antiinflammation, spasmolysis, antioxidative, contravariance, antiviral, anticancer activities, hepatoprotective, eliminating phlegm and reinforcing remembrance effects. Triterpene saponins are the main components of Glycyrrhiza Radix and its pharmacological activities are comparatively thorough and clear. In recent years, licorice flavonoids, proved to have a variety of pharmacological activities, become one of the hot of pharmacological studies. In this review, we summarized the latest five-year progress in pharmacological activities of licorice extract, its triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids, and experimental researches indicated that licorice had both accommodation and protection activity on the digestive system, respiratory system, nervous system, and endocrine system, etc.
甘草是一种常用的中药材，来源于甘草、光果甘草和胀果甘草的干燥根及根茎。甘草的主要生物活性成分是三萜皂苷和黄酮类化合物。甘草具有多种药理特性，包括抗溃疡、抗炎、解痉、抗氧化、抗过敏、抗病毒、抗癌活性、保肝、祛痰和增强记忆作用等。三萜皂苷是甘草的主要成分，其药理活性较为深入和明确。近年来，被证明具有多种药理活性的甘草黄酮成为药理研究的热点之一。在本综述中，我们总结了甘草提取物、其三萜皂苷和黄酮类化合物药理活性的近五年研究进展，实验研究表明甘草对消化系统、呼吸系统、神经系统和内分泌系统等具有调节和保护作用。
