Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. in Market

Objective: To analyze the active ingredients of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. from different producing areas in market in order to lay the foundation of studying the quality of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. cultivated by people. Method: Forty-eight kinds of traditional Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. from medicinal materials markets in Anguo in Hebei province and Bozhou in Anhui province,according to the standard of national pharmacopeia,were tested. The contents of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin were measured by HPLC,and the quality of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. from different origins was evaluated. Results: The majority Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. in market were cultivated in Gansu,and the contents of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin all accorded with the standards of pharmacopeia. But the difference was very large from the wild. Conclusion: The cultivated Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. is the main origin for traditional Chinese medicine in market. But the quality still needs to be improved for replacing the wild.