甘草及其活性成分的药理活性研究进展

Review of pharmacological effects of Glycyrrhiza Radix and its bioactive compounds

甘草是一味常用大宗药材,来源于乌拉尔甘草、光果甘草和胀果甘草的干燥根和根茎,其主要活性成分是三萜皂苷和黄酮类化合物,具有抗溃疡、抗炎、解痉、抗氧化、抗病毒、抗癌、抗抑郁、保肝、祛痰和增强记忆力等多种药理活性。三萜皂苷是甘草中含量较高的成分,其药理活性研究的较为深入和明确。近年来,甘草黄酮类化合物被证明具有多种药理活性后,也成为药理研究的热点之一。作者综述了甘草提取物、三萜皂苷和黄酮类成分近5年的药理活性研究进展,试验研究表明甘草对消化系统、呼吸系统、神经系统、内分泌系统等均具有调节和保护活性。

Glycyrrhiza Radix is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine, derived from the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. glabra and G. inflata, The main bioactive constituents of licorice are triterpene saponins and flavonoids. There are various types of pharmacological properties of licorice are proved, including antiulcer, antiinflammation, spasmolysis, antioxidative, contravariance, antiviral, antieaneer acrivities, hepatoprotective, eliminating phlegm and reinforcing remembrance effects. Triterpene saponins are the main components of Glycyrrhiza Radix and its pharmacological activities are comparatively thorough and clear. In recent years, licorice flavonoids, proved to have a variety of pharmacological activities, become one of the hot of pharmacological studies. In this review, we summarized the latest five-year progress in pharmacological activities of licorice extract, its triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids, and experimental researches indicated that licorice had both accommodation and protection activity on the digestive system, respiratory system, nervous system, and endocrine system, etc.