Study on variety trends of flavonoids in Glycyrrhiza uralensis in the west of Heilongjiang, China

The content of flavonoids of different parts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis in the west of Heilongjiang Province was mensurated by ultrasonic extraction and spectrophotometry, and some variety trends of content of flavonoids were studied. The results showed that the better extraction solvent was 50% carbinol liquor and ultrasonic extraction time was 45 min. This methods fitted to carry out mensuration of large numbers of liquorice samples. During a growing season, whether wild or cultivating liquorice, the content of flavonoids of leaves was higher but that of underground parts were lower. From May to October, the content of flavonoids of leaves descended gradually but some underground parts such as roots or rhizomes ascended gradually. The content of flavonoids of different parts of liquorice displayed variety in different months, which manifested clearly on some transportation parts of liquorice such as the stem of leaf and the overground caudex. The course of sexual reproduce may cause some varieties on content of flavonoids of different parts for wild liquorice but that of asexual reproduction may cause some varieties for cultivating liquorice.