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Review
. 2020 Aug 27;25(17):3904.
doi: 10.3390/molecules25173904.

Review of Constituents and Biological Activities of Triterpene Saponins from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Its Solubilization Characteristics

Feifei Li  1   2 , Bin Liu  3 , Tong Li  1 , Qianwen Wu  1 , Zhiyong Xu  4 , Yuhao Gu  1 , Wen Li  1 , Penglong Wang  1 , Tao Ma  1 , Haimin Lei  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Review of Constituents and Biological Activities of Triterpene Saponins from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Its Solubilization Characteristics

Feifei Li et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is regarded as one of the most popular and commonly used herbal medicines and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions for over 2000 years. Pentacyclic triterpene saponins are common secondary metabolites in these plants, which are synthesized via the isoprenoid pathway to produce a hydrophobic triterpenoid aglycone containing a hydrophilic sugar chain. This paper systematically summarizes the chemical structures of triterpene saponins in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and reviews and updates their main biological activities studies. Furthermore, the solubilization characteristics, influences, and mechanisms of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma are elaborated. Solubilization of the triterpene saponins from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma occurs because they contain the nonpolar sapogenin and water-soluble sidechain. The possible factors affecting the solubilization of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma are mainly other crude drugs and the pH of the decoction. Triterpene saponins represented by glycyrrhizin from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma characteristically form micelles due to amphiphilicity, which makes solubilization possible. This overview provides guidance regarding a better understanding of GlycyrrhizaeRadix et Rhizoma and its TCM compatibility, alongside a theoretical basis for the further development and utilization of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.

Keywords: Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma; biological activities; glycyrrhizin; solubilization; triterpene saponins.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Triterpene saponins in G. uralensis.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Triterpene saponins in G. uralensis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Triterpene saponins in G. glabra.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Triterpene saponins in G. inflata.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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