1. Miscellaneous Drugs
Liquorice
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2. Department of Technical Education Andhra Pradesh
Name : B.Sri Rama Murty
Designation : Head of Pharmacy Section
Branch : PHARMACY
Institute : Govt.,Polytechnic for Women, Srikakulam
Year/Semester : I Year
Subject : Pharmacognosy
Subject code : PH103
Topic : Miscellaneous Drugs
Duration : 50 Mts
Sub Topic : Liquorice
Teaching Aids : PPT, Photographs
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3. Objectives
On completion of this period you would be able to know about :
The monograph of Liquorice
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4. Known to Unknown Have you ever heard the name “Atimadhuram”?
Is it leaf or root?
What is the official name of sweet root in the Pharamacognsy?
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5. Liquorice Synonym : Liquorice root, Glycyrrhiza, Mulethi
Botanical Source:
Dried peeled or unpeeled roots
and stolons of the plant known as
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Family : Leguminosae
Fig.67.1 Liquorice plant
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6. Liquorice Geographical source : Russia, Iran Italy, Spain
Chaina, France
Iraq and Greece
Fig.67.2 Liquorice plant
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7. Liquorice Organoleptic characters: Color : Unpeeled - yellowish
brown or dark brown
Peeled - Yellow
Odour : Faint and Characteristic
Taste : Sweet
Fig.67.3 Liquorice roots
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8. Liquorice Size : Length 20 to 50 cm. Diameter 2 cm.
Shape : Cylindrical straight
Peeled liquorice is
angular
Fracture : Fibrous in bark
splintery in wood
Fig.67.3 Liquorice roots
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9. Liquorice Chemical constituents:
Triterpenoid saponin known as Glycyrrhizin
(water soluble, 50 times sweeter than sucrose)
Glycyrrhizin is a potassium and calcium salt of
Glycyrrhizic acid
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10. Liquorice Chemical constituents : Glycyrrizic acid Glycyrrhetinic acid
Other constituents : Flavone glycoside
Glucose (upto 4%)
Sucrose 2.5 to 6.5%
Bitter principles
Resins
Asparagine (2 to 4%) and fat.
Hydrolysis
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11. Liquorice Chemical tests :
When moistened with 80% sulphuric acid liquorice
develops a deep yellow color
Due to change of flavone glycoside Liquiritin to
Chalcone glycoside
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12. Liquorice USES : Demulcent Expectorant Sweetening agent
Flavouring agent
Antispasmodic
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13. Liquorice USES : Anti inflammatory Antiulcer
In the treatment of Addison’s disease
Also used in the preparation of cough lozenges
Potentiate the laxative action of SennaS
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14. Summary In this class we learnt about : The Monograph Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra belongs to the family Leguminosae containsTriterpenoid saponin (Glycyrrhizin) is used as sweetening agent
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15. Quiz Botonical source of Liquorice is Glycyrrhiza glabra
Glycyrrhiza sativum
Glycyrrhiza purpurea
Glycyrrhiza officinalis
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16. Quiz 2. Main chemical constituents present in Liquorice Alkaloids
Volatile oil
Glycosides
Terpenoids
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17. Quiz 3. Liquorice is used as Spice Carminative Antibacterial
Sweetening agent
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18. Frequently Asked Questions
Write the uses and constituents of Liquorice
Write the family and Biological source of Liquorice
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