Liquiritin (Flavanone Glycoside · Gastroprotective · Antidepressant-like)

Compound	Liquiritin (Liquiritigenin-4′-O-β-D-Glucoside; Licorice flavanone glycoside)
Chemical class	Polyphenol — Flavanone Glycoside (liquiritigenin with C-4′ glucose; iso-liquiritin = 4-glucoside of isoliquiritigenin chalcone)
CAS	551-15-5
Primary source	Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice root), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Chinese licorice), Glycyrrhiza inflata
Key applications	Gastroprotective; antidepressant-like; anti-inflammatory; skin-brightening
Claim strength	Moderate
Typical form	Licorice Root Extract Powder; DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) extract — liquiritin retained; licorice standardised extracts
Buy from Herbuno	Licorice Root Extract Powder | Mulethi → DGL Licorice Extract Powder | Mulethi →

Name origin: Liquiritin takes its name from Glycyrrhiza (licorice) — its exclusive botanical source. It is the 4′-O-glucoside of liquiritigenin, the characteristic flavanone aglycone of licorice. Liquiritigenin is distinct from naringenin in having only a 4′-hydroxyl on the B-ring (no 7-hydroxyl — the A-ring is resorcinol-patterned rather than phloroglucinol-patterned, a chemotaxonomic marker of Glycyrrhiza). Traditional use: Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice, Mulethi) has been used in medicine continuously for over 4,000 years — documented in ancient Egyptian papyri, Mesopotamian clay tablets, Ayurvedic texts (Yashtimadhu), and the Hippocratic corpus. Primary traditional indications include gastric ulcer, peptic disorders, cough, adrenal insufficiency support, and anti-inflammatory applications. Liquiritin is a primary flavonoid of licorice root alongside glycyrrhizin (the saponin responsible for the sweet taste and most known adverse effects), glabridin, and isoliquiritigenin. Research trajectory: Liquiritin has been studied for gastroprotective activity (particularly ulcer healing), antidepressant-like mechanisms (serotonin and dopamine pathway modulation in rodent models), and skin brightening (tyrosinase inhibition). Its antidepressant data are among the strongest for a single plant flavanone compound. Commercial source: Liquiritin is available from Herbuno via Licorice Root Extract Powder (Glycyrrhiza glabra — Mulethi) and DGL Licorice Extract Powder — both delivering the licorice flavonoid spectrum including liquiritin alongside glabridin and isoliquiritigenin.

---

Evidence for Liquiritin Applications

Gastroprotective activity: Liquiritin promotes gastric mucosal protection via PGE₂ pathway upregulation (similar to eupatilin's mechanism), mucus secretion stimulation, and anti-inflammatory activity at the gastric mucosa level. In rodent ethanol- and aspirin-induced ulcer models, liquiritin at 25–100 mg/kg significantly reduces ulcer index and promotes ulcer healing. In the context of DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) preparations — from which glycyrrhizin is removed to reduce aldosterone-mimicking adverse effects while retaining flavonoids including liquiritin — clinical evidence for peptic ulcer support exists. Claim strength: Moderate.

Antidepressant-like activity: Liquiritin has demonstrated significant antidepressant-like effects in rodent forced swim and tail suspension tests at 20–40 mg/kg, with efficacy comparable to fluoxetine and imipramine in some studies. The mechanism involves: (1) monoaminergic pathway modulation (increased synaptic serotonin and norepinephrine via reuptake inhibition and increased synthesis); (2) BDNF upregulation in the hippocampus; (3) HPA axis modulation reducing corticosterone. These are the most comprehensive antidepressant mechanistic data for a licorice flavanone. Human clinical data are not yet available. Claim strength: Moderate (preclinical).

Skin brightening (tyrosinase inhibition): Liquiritin inhibits tyrosinase — the key enzyme in melanin biosynthesis — at micromolar concentrations, reducing melanin production in melanocyte cell models. Topical licorice extract formulations standardised to liquiritin content are commercially established in Asian skin care markets for hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. Claim strength: Moderate.

Anti-inflammatory: COX-2 inhibition, NF-κB suppression, and NLRP3 inflammasome modulation are documented for liquiritin. The 4′-glucoside structure improves aqueous solubility versus the aglycone liquiritigenin, facilitating delivery to inflammatory sites. Claim strength: Moderate.

---

Dosage & Formulator Specification

No human supplement dosing data exist for isolated liquiritin. DGL licorice preparations studied for gastric ulcer use 380–1000 mg/day deglycyrrhizinated extract. Liquiritin content in DGL extract is typically 2–5% alongside other flavonoids. For antidepressant applications modelled on rodent data, human equivalent doses (based on allometric scaling) would be in the range of 100–400 mg/day pure liquiritin — achievable only with concentrated standardised preparations.

DGL licorice is the preferred formulation vehicle over whole licorice extract for all internal applications requiring >4 weeks of use, as glycyrrhizin causes dose-dependent hypokalaemia, hypertension, and aldosterone-mimicking effects. DGL preparations contain <3% glycyrrhizin while retaining liquiritin, glabridin, isoliquiritigenin, and other flavonoids responsible for gastroprotective and anti-inflammatory activity.

For skin brightening topical applications, liquiritin-containing licorice extracts at 0.5–2% in cream or serum formulations are the commercial standard. Aqueous stability of liquiritin at pH 5–7 is good; the glucoside linkage is stable under typical cosmetic preservation conditions.

Internal licorice preparations (non-DGL) should be limited to <4 weeks continuous use at doses providing >100 mg/day glycyrrhizin. Contraindicated in hypertension, hypokalaemia, renal insufficiency, and pregnancy. DGL preparations avoid these systemic concerns while retaining flavonoid activity.

---

Frequently Asked Questions — Liquiritin

What makes licorice's flavanone chemistry distinct from Citrus flavanones?
Licorice flavanones (liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin) have a resorcinol A-ring pattern (4,4′-dihydroxy) versus the phloroglucinol A-ring (5,7-dihydroxy) of Citrus flavanones (naringenin, hesperetin, eriodictyol). This structural difference means licorice flavanones behave differently in receptor binding assays — particularly at oestrogen receptors, where liquiritigenin shows notable ERβ selective agonism. This makes licorice flavanones pharmacologically distinct from Citrus flavanones despite both being classified as flavanones.

What is DGL licorice and why is it preferred over whole licorice?
DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is licorice root extract processed to remove glycyrrhizin — the triterpenoid saponin responsible for licorice's sweet taste and its aldosterone-mimicking adverse effects (pseudohyperaldosteronism: hypokalaemia, hypertension, oedema). DGL preparations typically contain <3% residual glycyrrhizin while retaining the flavonoid fraction (liquiritin, glabridin, isoliquiritigenin) responsible for gastroprotective and anti-inflammatory activity. DGL has been used for decades in European and American supplement markets for gastric support without the safety limitations of whole licorice.

What is liquiritigenin and how does it relate to liquiritin?
Liquiritigenin is liquiritin's aglycone — the flavanone without any sugar. Gut microbial glucosidases cleave liquiritin's 4′-glucose to release liquiritigenin for absorption. Liquiritigenin is notable for ERβ selective agonism (used as a research tool compound for oestrogen receptor biology) and is the form responsible for liquiritin's oestrogenic activity profile. The parent glycoside liquiritin is more water-soluble and is the primary form in commercial licorice extracts.

Which Herbuno licorice products are appropriate for skin brightening versus internal use?
For internal gastroprotective and antidepressant-supporting applications, DGL Licorice Extract Powder (Mulethi) is the appropriate product — removing glycyrrhizin safety concerns for extended use. For applications where the tyrosinase-inhibiting skin-brightening activity is primary (topical cosmetic), Licorice Root Extract Powder provides full-spectrum flavonoids including liquiritin at higher concentrations. Contact Herbuno for specification documentation and standardisation data for both products.

Related compounds: Liquiritigenin, Hesperetin, Eriodictyol, Bavachin

---

Claim-strength scale – High = multiple human RCTs; Moderate = limited trials or strong preclinical convergence; Emerging = early-stage lab or animal data.

← HerbIQ Compound Index · HerbIQ P02: Extraction · HerbIQ P03: Delivery