Glycerin as an alternative solvent for the extraction of glycyrrhizic acid from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra

Licorice root extracts are one of the most common and widely used plant extracts. Due to the high content of biologically active substances and pronounced properties, they are used in various industries – in medicine, pharmacology, cosmetics and food industries. The underground part of Licorice contains more than 100 different chemical substances, the most biologically active of which are flavonoids and triterpene saponins. The most significant saponin is glycyrrhizic acid. Science knows many ways to obtain licorice extract, and the research is still being actively carried out to find even more effective, inexpensive and accessible methods. The purpose of the research was to investigate the feasibility and potential of glycerol as a solvent for the extraction of glycyrrhizic acid from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra. The methods. Isolation of glycyrrhizic acid from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra was carried out using the maceration method. Glycerrin and the classic extractant ethanol were tested as an extractant for comparative analysis. Determination of glycyrrhizic acid content in licorice glabra roots was carried out using differential spectrophotometry. The Results. Optimal conditions for the extraction of glycyrrhizic acid from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra were selected. The maximum content of glycyrrhizic acid was observed in the sample prepared at a water-glycerol ratio of 3:2. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the study of the possibility of using glycerol as a solvent for extraction and the selection of optimal conditions for the extraction of glycyrrhizic acid from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra in order to increase the level of extraction of the target substance.