HPLC analysis of polyphenolic compounds, phytoestrogens and sterols from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. tincture

The presence and quantification of polyphenolic compounds, phytoestrogens and sterols from Glycyrrhiza glabra tincture, was assessed through HPLC methods. Phenol carboxylic acids were present in larger quantities than flavonoids in tincture. p-Coumaric acid, ferulic acid, luteolin and apigenin were found and quantified in both hydrolyzed and unhydrolyzed samples. Kaempferol, fisetin, myricetin, hyperoside, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and rutoside could not be found in the analyzed samples. Regarding the phytoestrogens content, significant quantities of ononin and its aglycone formononetin were detected. Among sterols, the largest amount recovered in the tincture was beta-sitosterol and the smallest ergosterol. Keywords: polyphenolic compounds, phytoestrogens, sterols, HPLC-DAD, HPLC-MS, Glycyrrhiza glabra