Planta Med 2014; 80 - PPL31
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382667

A UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantitation of licorice constituents in diverse botanical dietary supplements

G Li 1, C Simmler 1, D Nikolic 1, LL Gauthier 1, SN Chen 1, GF Pauli 1, RB van Breemen 1
  • 1Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois College of Pharmacy, UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research, Chicago, IL 60612

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza sp.), the root and underground stems of Glycyrrhiza species, has been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times, and approximately 18 species are distributed widely around the world. Due to the similarity between some of these species, distinguishing them based on microscopic and macroscopic examination is challenging. Here, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to quantify 13 constituents (glycosides of liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin, glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, glabridin, licoricidin, and licochalcone A) found in the three widely used Glycyrrhiza species namely Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. Ex DC., Glycyrrhiza inflata Batalin. Using this method, various licorice samples (12) from different sources were analyzed as well as commercial supplement mixtures.

Supported by grant P50 AT000155 from the NIH ODS and NCCAM.