Abstract
For the identification of the botanical origin of licorice (ML-44, N-99) stored in Shosoin, the Imperial Storehouse in the city of Nara since 756AD, we made genetic and chemical analyses in comparison with 205 and 117, respectively, authentic samples of licorice roots derived from Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. glabra and G. inflata. Referring to the experimental results of the genetic analysis study of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) on nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) of the above three species of licorice, the contents of glycyrrhizin and five main flavonoids, and their scattering pattern of occurrence, Shosoin-licorice was finally identified to be the root of G. uralensis.
(Contributed by Shoji SHIBATA, M. J. A., June 10, 2003)
