Simultaneous recovery of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin from Chinese licorice root (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch) by aqueous two-phase system and evaluation biological activities of extracts. Issue 9 (13th June 2018) - Huang, Long
ABSTRACT: Aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was used for simultaneous purification of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and liquiritin (LQ) from crude extract of Chinese licorice root. It was revealed that 87% GA and 94% LQ were retrieved in the ATPS top phase, under the optimum conditions of 25% (w/w) ethanol, 30% (w/w) K2 HPO4 and 4% (w/w) loading sample at 10–40°C. Compared with crude extract, the ATPS top-phase extract exhibited the highest antioxidative activity, but no tyrosinase inhibitory effect. Whereas, the ATPS bottom-phase extract was proved to be effective ABTS radical scavenger and tyrosinase inhibitor, suggesting the potency of the alcohol-salt ATPS purification for the different medicinal purposes.