npcr

Natural Products Chemistry & Research

ISSN - 2329-6836

Abstract

In vitro Fertilization with Mouse Sperm Activated by Components of Licorice Root Extract

Nguyen Huu Tung, Hiromitsu Tanaka, Akira Tsujimura, Yasushi Miyagawa, Morimasa Wada, Shunsuke Fujii, Takuhiro Uto and Yukihiro Shoyama

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza species) is an important natural product that is frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this review article, we discuss the quality control of licorice using monoclonal antibodies against the licorice components glyzyrrhizin (GC) and liquiritin (Liq); the monitoring of licorice extract activity using an assay system in mice; and the isolation of two active phenolic components, isolitiritigenin and formononetin, and their effectiveness for improving in vitro fertilization in mice. Finally, we present the outstanding questions and potential applications of licorice root extract.

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