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Application of Microscopy in the Quality Control of Licorice Roots: Comparative Anatomy of the Roots and Rhizomes of Five Species of Glycyrrhiza

Part of: Micrographia Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2022

Vijayasankar Raman Open the ORCID record for Vijayasankar Raman [Opens in a new window] ,
Jane Manfron Open the ORCID record for Jane Manfron [Opens in a new window] ,
Bharathi Avula ,
Jianping Zhao ,
Kumar Katragunta Open the ORCID record for Kumar Katragunta [Opens in a new window] ,
Amar G. Chittiboyina  and
Ikhlas A. Khan
Vijayasankar Raman*
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Jane Manfron
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, PR 84030-900, Brazil
Bharathi Avula
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Jianping Zhao
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Kumar Katragunta
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Amar G. Chittiboyina
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Ikhlas A. Khan
Affiliation:
National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Vijayasankar Raman, E-mail: vraman@olemiss.edu
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Abstract

The raw materials of “licorice root” in the commerce consist of roots and/or rhizomes (stolons) of different species of Glycyrrhiza. Licorice products and raw materials are frequently mislabeled and often have mixed, misidentified, or unidentified species and parts. This paper provides a detailed comparative analysis of the morpho-anatomies of the rhizomes and roots of five species of Glycyrrhiza, namely G. glabra, G. uralensis, G. echinata, G. inflata, and G. lepidota, by bright-field light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The studied species showed some similarities in their basic anatomical features due to the fact that they are phylogenetically closely related and belong to the same genus. However, differences in microscopic features such as the thickness of cork and medullary rays, pore frequency, and size of the vessels were observed. The rhizomes can readily be distinguished by the presence of a distinct pith. The roots lack a well-defined pith and instead have primary xylem in the center.

Keywords

authenticationbotanical dietary supplementsGlycyrrhizalicorice rootmicroscopymorpho-anatomyquality control
Type
Micrographia
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 28 , Issue 6 , December 2022 , pp. 2150 - 2166
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Microscopy Society of America

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