Glycyrrhizin, ammoniated (Glycyrrhiza spp.) (CAS 53956-04-0) — Sweet Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Glycyrrhizin, ammoniated (Glycyrrhiza spp.)
CAS 53956-04-0
What Is Glycyrrhizin, ammoniated (Glycyrrhiza spp.)?
Ammoniated glycyrrhizin is a sweetening compound derived from licorice root (Glycyrrhiza spp.). It’s commonly found in confectionery, tobacco products, and some beverages. This ingredient provides a distinctive sweet flavor that’s 50 times more potent than sugar, making it valuable for flavor modulation where intense sweetness is desired without bulk.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Glycyrrhizin, ammoniated (Glycyrrhiza spp.) Smell Like?
While primarily a flavorant, ammoniated glycyrrhizin has subtle olfactory characteristics. It imparts a sweet, woody-anisic aroma reminiscent of dried licorice sticks with a faint ammoniacal nuance. The scent profile is persistent but not volatile, acting more as a background sweetener than a top note. Its olfactory effect is most noticeable in tobacco and leather accords where it provides a rounded sweetness that tempers harsh edges.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: [NH4+].CC1(C)[C@H](CC[C@@]2(C)[C@H]1CC[C@]1(C)[C@@H]2C(=O)C=C2[C@@H]3C[C@](C)(CC[C@]3(C)CC[C@@]12C)C(O)=O)O[C@H]1O[C@@H]([C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]1O[C@@H]1O[C@@H]([C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]1O)C([O-])=O)C(O)=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ammoniated glycyrrhizin is the ammonium salt of glycyrrhizic acid, a triterpenoid saponin glycoside. The compound is typically produced by alkaline extraction from licorice root followed by ammoniation. Chemically, it consists of a glycyrrhetinic acid moiety with two glucuronic acid units. The ammoniation process increases water solubility while maintaining the characteristic sweet taste. Unlike its parent compound, it doesn’t exhibit the mineralocorticoid effects associated with glycyrrhizic acid.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Yellowish-brown powder |
|---|---|
| Solubility | Water-soluble |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tobacco Flavors | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Sweetness enhancer |
| Leather Accords | 0.01-0.1% | Trace amounts | Roundness modifier |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use sparingly in alcohol-based perfumes as it may precipitate.
Alternatives & Comparisons
The aglycone form with less sweetness but similar olfactory properties, useful when water solubility isn’t required.
Provides sweet caramelic notes without the licorice character, more volatile and versatile in compositions.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA, but use in fragrances is limited due to low volatility.
RIFM Assessment
Not currently evaluated by RIFM due to limited fragrance applications.
Sustainability
Licorice is a drought-resistant crop requiring minimal inputs, though overharvesting of wild plants is a concern. Most commercial material now comes from cultivated sources. Synthetic production routes exist but are not economically competitive with plant extraction. The ammoniation process is low-waste and uses common industrial chemicals.
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References
- European Food Safety Authority. (2010). Scientific Opinion on Glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt. EFSA Journal. EFSA Journal 2010
- Kitagawa, I. (2002). Licorice root. A natural sweetener and an important ingredient in Chinese medicine. Pure Appl. Chem. PAC 2002
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPerfumer’s Notes
FEMA #: 2528 | IOFI #: Natural
Licorice (glycyrrhiza) root is the dried and ground rhizome and root portions of Glycyrrhiza glabra or other species of glycyrrhiza. Ammoniated glycyrrhizin is prepared from the water extract of licorice root by acid precipitation, followed by neutralization with dilute ammonia. Monoammonium glycyrrhizinate (C42H62O16NH45H2O) is prepared from ammoniated glycyrrhizin by solvent extraction and separation techniques.
MW: 840.0
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 53956-04-0Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 840 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 378 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| SMILES | CC1(C2CCC3(C(C2(CCC1OC4C(C(C(C(O4)C(=O)O)O)O)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)C(=O)O)O)O)O)C)C(=O)C=C6C3(CCC7(C6CC(CC7)(C)C(=O)O)C)C)C)C.N🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | ketonealcoholetheralkene💻 RDKit |
| “Very faint, sweet caramellic-rootlike odor.”📖 Arctander | |
| Licorice (glycyrrhiza) root is the dried and ground rhizome and root portions of Glycyrrhiza glabra or other species of glycyrrhiza. Ammoniated glycyrrhizin is prepared from the water extract of licorice root by acid precipitation, followed by neutralization with dilute ammonia. Monoammonium glycyrrhizinate (C42H62O16NH45H2O) is prepared from ammoniated glycyrrhizin by solvent extraction and separation techniques.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Intensely sweet taste. In higher concentrations producing a slightly burning sensation in the back of the mouth and in the throat, shortly after the sweet taste. In extreme dilution there is only a sweet taste. Glycyrrhizin (ammoniated) as such is not widely used in flavors, but the impure Glycyrr- ”📖 Arctander |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2528⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| IOFI Classification | Natural📖 Fenaroli |
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID2041204
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 839.973 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.801 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 378 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 209 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.86 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 0.84 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 1.81 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 9.59 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.003 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 306.37 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 8 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 14 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 7 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 204.46 cm^3/mol💻 Computed |
Data Sources:
🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.
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