Composition and antimicrobial activity study on essential oil from the aerial parts of Chinese licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.)

摘要

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as one of the most important crude drug for thousands of years. By steam distillation, the essential oil from the aerial parts of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) was obtained and analyzed by GC-MS. 28 components representing 74.39% of the total oil content were identified for the first time in this species. The main compounds in the oil were β -cadinene (12.28%), β-caryophyllene (10.04%),γ-cadinene (9.49%), phytol (8.43%), α-cadinene (4.43%), caryophyllene oxide (3.65%) and α -gurjunene (3.48%). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was evaluated by investigation of MIC and MBC.