eng Science and Education Publishing Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 2333-1240 2025-08-10 13 8 301 306 10.12691/jfnr-13-8-4 JFNR20251384 article Keiichi Ishido k-ishido@mgpharma.co.jp 1 Yuka Sasakawa 1 Michiyo Abe 1 Fumiko Nakaoka 1 Mayumi Nakao 1 Kaori Yamamoto 1 Chizuko Fukuhama 1 Yasuo Sumida 1 MG Pharma Inc., Osaka 567-0085, Japan Obesity is recognized as a significant public health concern. Although licorice extract from the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis exhibits anti-obesity effects, limited knowledge regarding its active components has hindered the development of standardized preparations. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the compound responsible for the anti-obesity activity of licorice extract. By isolating and characterizing a compound exhibiting lipolytic activity against 3T3-L1 adipocytes, glyasperin B was identified. In a diet-induced obesity mouse model, the efficacy of licorice extracts correlated with glyasperin B content, suggesting that glyasperin B is a key contributor to the anti-obesity effects of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. This study¡¯s findings may facilitate the standardized preparation of licorice extracts for weight management, potentially aiding in the fight against obesity. https://pubs.sciepub.com/jfnr/13/8/4/jfnr-13-8-4.pdf licorice glyasperin B flavonoid lipolysis obesity Glycyrrhiza uralensis