Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T05:33:14.883Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Application of Microscopy in the Quality Control of Licorice Roots: Comparative Anatomy of the Roots and Rhizomes of Five Species of Glycyrrhiza

Part of: Micrographia Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2022

Vijayasankar Raman Open the ORCID record for Vijayasankar Raman [Opens in a new window] ,
Jane Manfron Open the ORCID record for Jane Manfron [Opens in a new window] ,
Bharathi Avula ,
Jianping Zhao ,
Kumar Katragunta Open the ORCID record for Kumar Katragunta [Opens in a new window] ,
Amar G. Chittiboyina  and
Ikhlas A. Khan
Vijayasankar Raman*
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Jane Manfron
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, PR 84030-900, Brazil
Bharathi Avula
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Jianping Zhao
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Kumar Katragunta
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Amar G. Chittiboyina
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Ikhlas A. Khan
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Vijayasankar Raman, E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The raw materials of “licorice root” in the commerce consist of roots and/or rhizomes (stolons) of different species of Glycyrrhiza. Licorice products and raw materials are frequently mislabeled and often have mixed, misidentified, or unidentified species and parts. This paper provides a detailed comparative analysis of the morpho-anatomies of the rhizomes and roots of five species of Glycyrrhiza, namely G. glabra, G. uralensis, G. echinata, G. inflata, and G. lepidota, by bright-field light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The studied species showed some similarities in their basic anatomical features due to the fact that they are phylogenetically closely related and belong to the same genus. However, differences in microscopic features such as the thickness of cork and medullary rays, pore frequency, and size of the vessels were observed. The rhizomes can readily be distinguished by the presence of a distinct pith. The roots lack a well-defined pith and instead have primary xylem in the center.

Keywords

authenticationbotanical dietary supplementsGlycyrrhizalicorice rootmicroscopymorpho-anatomyquality control
Type
Micrographia
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 28 , Issue 6 , December 2022 , pp. 2150 - 2166
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Microscopy Society of America

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

African Pharmacopoeia (1985). African Pharmacopoeia. Lagos: Organization of African Unity, Scientific Technical & Research Commission.Google Scholar
Avula, B, Bae, J, Chittiboyina, A, Wang, Y-H, Wang, M, Zhao, J, Ali, Z, Brinckmann, J, Li, J, Wu, C & Khan, IA (2022). Chemometric analysis and chemical characterization for the botanical identification of Glycyrrhiza species (G. glabra, G. uralensis, G. inflata, G. echinata and G. lepidota) using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTof). J Food Compost Anal 112, 104679.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baltina, LA, Tasi, YT, Huang, SH, Lai, HC, Baltina, LA, Petrova, SF, Yunusov, MS & Lin, CW (2019). Glycyrrhizic acid derivatives as dengue virus inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 29(20), 126645.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bell, AD & Bryan, A (2008). Plant Form: An Illustrated Guide to Flowering Plant Morphology. London: Timber Press.Google Scholar
British Pharmacopoeia (1988). British Pharmacopoeia. London: British Pharmacopoeia Commission.Google Scholar
Chinese Pharmacopeia Commission (2009). An Illustrated Handbook on Microscopic Identification of Chinese Crude Drugs for Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House.Google Scholar
Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission (1992). Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. Beijing: Gaundong Science and Technology Press.Google Scholar
Cinatl, J, Morgenstern, B, Bauer, G, Chandra, P, Rabenau, H & Doerr, HW (2003). Glycyrrhizin, an active component of liquorice roots, and replication of SARS-associated coronavirus. Lancet 361(9374), 2045–2046.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
eFloras (2008). Published on the internet available at http://www.efloras.org. St. Louis, MO: Missouri Botanical Garden & Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Herbaria.Google Scholar
European Pharmacopoeia (1997). European Pharmacopoeia. Strasbourg: Council of Europe.Google Scholar
Evert, RF (2006). Esau's Plant Anatomy: Meristems, Cells, and Tissues of the Plant Body—Their Structure, Function, and Development. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fern, K (1997). Plants for a Future: Edible and Useful Plants for a Healthier World. Hampshire: Permanent Publications.Google Scholar
Fiore, C, Eisenhut, M, Krausse, R, Ragazzi, E, Pellati, D, Armanini, D & Bielenberg, J (2008). Antiviral effects of Glycyrrhiza species. Phytother Res 22(2), 141–148.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greenish, HG (1920). A Text Book of Materia Medica : Being an Account of the More Important Crude Drugs of Vegetable and Animal Origin. London: J. & A. Churchill.Google Scholar
Greenish, HG & Collin, E (1904). An Anatomical Atlas of Vegetable Powders, Designed as an Aid to the Microscopic Analysis of Powdered Foods and Drugs. London: J. & A. Churchill.Google Scholar
Hayat, MA (2000). Principles and Techniques of Electron Microscopy: Biological Applications. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Hickey, M & King, C (2000). The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Hoever, G, Baltina, L, Michaelis, M, Kondratenko, R, Baltina, L, Tolstikov, GA, Doerr, HW & Cinatl, J Jr (2005). Antiviral activity of glycyrrhizic acid derivatives against SARS-coronavirus. J Med Chem 48(4), 1256–1259.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Japanese Pharmacopoeia (1991). The Pharmacopoeia of Japan. Tokyo: Society of Japanese Pharmacopoeia.Google Scholar
Johansen, DA (1940). Plant Microtechnique. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co Inc.Google Scholar
Klaassen, R (1999). Wood anatomy of the Sapindaceae. Published for the International Association of Wood Anatomists at the National Herbarium of the Netherlands (Supplement 2).Google Scholar
Kraemer, H (1910). A Textbook of Botany and Pharmacognosy: Intended for the Use of Students of Pharmacy, as a Reference Book for Pharmacists, and as a Handbook for Food and Drug Analysts. London: JB Lippincott.Google Scholar
Kraemer, H (1916). Applied and Economic Botany for Students in Technical and Agricultural Schools, Pharmaceutical and Medical Colleges, for Chemists, Food Analysts and for Those Engaged in the Morphological and Physiological Study of Plants. New York: John Wiley & Sons.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kraus, JE, de Sousa, HC, Rezende, MH, Castro, NM, Vecchi, C & Luque, R (1998). Astra blue and basic fuchsin double staining of plant materials. Biotech Histochem 73(5), 235–243.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Krishnamurthy, KV (1988). Plant Histochemistry. Madras: S. Viswanathan Pvt. Ltd.Google Scholar
Liu, C & Xiao, P (1993). An Introduction to Chinese Materia Medica, p. 166. Beijing: Beijing Medicinal University and Peking Union Medical University Press.Google Scholar
Mace, ME & Howell, CR (1974). Histochemistry and identification of condensed tannin precursors in roots of cotton seedlings. Can J Bot 52(11), 2423–2426.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meier, E (2018). Hardwood anatomy. In The Wood Database. Available online at www.wood-database.comGoogle Scholar
NPIN (2013). Native Plant Information Network. Austin: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas.Google Scholar
Peng, L, Li, J-T & Hu, Z-H (2007). Anatomical study of Glycyrrhiza uralensis roots and rhizomes. Acta Bot Boreali-Occident Sin 27(12), 2429.Google Scholar
POWO (2019). Plants of the World Online. Kew: Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens.Google Scholar
Prajapati, SM & Patel, BR (2015). A comparative clinical study of jethimala (Taverniera nummularia Baker.) and yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra linn.) in the management of amlapitta. Ayu 36(2), 157–162.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roskov, Y, Bisby, F, Zarucchi, J, Schrire, B & White, R (2005). ILDIS World Database of Legumes: Draft Checklist, Version 10. ILDIS: Reading.Google Scholar
Shen, X-P, Xiao, P-G & Liu, C-X (2007). Research and application of radix glycyrrhizae. Asian J Pharmacodyn Pharmacokinet 7, 181–200.Google Scholar
Tomar, S & Asif, M (2020). Pharmacognostical identification of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Root. Res J Pharmacogn Phytochem 12(2), 87–93.Google Scholar
Upton, R, Graff, A, Jolliffe, G, Länger, R & Williamson, E (2011). Microscopic Characterization of Botanical Medicines. American Herbal Pharmacopoeia: Botanical Pharmacognosy. Boca Raton: CRC Press.Google Scholar
WHO (1999). WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants. Geneva: World Health Organization.Google Scholar
World Flora Online (2021). Glycyrrhiza. Published on the Internet http://www.worldfloraonline.org.Google Scholar
Xie, Z, Huang, X, Luo, Z, Li, X, Zhou, L, Yuan, S, Zhuo, S, Yang, S & Tang, Z (1980). Common Terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine in English. Beijing: Beijing Medical University, p. 267.Google Scholar
Zhang, S-Y, Baas, P & Zandee, M (1992). Wood structure of the Rosaceae in relation to ecology, habit and phenology. IAWA J 13(3), 307–349.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhao, J, Wang, M, Sabestian, J, Lee, J, Chittiboyina, A, Avula, B, Ali, Z, Raman, V, Li, J, Wu, C & Khan, IA (2022). Metabolite variation and discrimination of five licorice (Glycyrrhiza) species: HPTLC and NMR explorations. J Pharm Biomed Anal 220, 115012.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhijun, L, Wenzhe, L & Zhenghai, H (1997). Morphological anatomical studies on the roots and rhizomes of 5 species in Glycyrrhiza. Acta Bot Boreali-Occident Sin 17(3), 339–347 (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zore, GB, Winston, UB, Surwase, BS, Meshram, NS, Sangle, V, Kulkarni, SS & Karuppayil, SM (2008). Chemoprofile and bioactivities of Taverniera cuneifolia (roth) Arn.: A wild relative and possible substitute of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Phytomedicine 15(4), 292–300.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed