Comparative analysis of ten strains of Glycyrrhiza uralensis cultivated in Japan.

Comparative analysis of 10 strains of Glycyrrhiza uralensis cultivated in Kyoto, Japan, was undertaken to characterize their variations. Based on the chemical characteristics of their leaves and underground parts, the 10 strains were divided into two chemotypes, the China type and Kazakhstan type. The contents of licoleafol in the leaves of the China type (0-0.03% of dry weight) were lower than those of the Kazakhstan type (0.05-1.16% of dry weight). In addition, a China type-specific unidentified compound was also detected in the leaves of China-type plants. Glycyrrhizin contents in the underground parts of the China type (2.08-5.12% of dry weight) were relatively higher than those of the Kazakhstan type (0.75-2.55% of dry weight). Contents of glycycoumarin, a species-specific flavonoid of G. uralensis, in the underground parts of China-type plants (0.07-0.28% of dry weight) were higher than those of Kazakhstan-type plants (0.01-0.08% of dry weight). These 10 strains were also divided into two genotypes, the GA type and AT type, based on their chloroplast ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit gene (rbcL) sequences, although there was no correlation between the chemotype and the rbcL genotype.