Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science (GARJAS) ISSN: 2315-5094
February 2016 Vol. 5(2): pp. 088-093
Copyright © 2016 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Some Biological Effects of the Phenolic Content of Licorice Roots (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) 

Mohamed H. M. Abd El Azim^1*, Mohamed El-Gerby¹, Ahmed A. M. Abdelgawad², Amani M. D. El-Mesallamy¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.

² Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Dept., Desert Research Center, Cairo 11753, Egypt.

Email: drmhm1982@gmail.com

Accepted 14 February, 2016

Abstract

The phenolic content of licorice roots (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) was investigated by various chromatographic methods. The results showed, identification of 17 phenolic compounds as Protocatechuic acid, Vanillic acid, Benzoic acid, Quercetin-3-O-α-rhamnosyl(1→6)-β-glucoside (Rutin),  Quercetin 3-O-a-rhamnoside (Quercetrin), Naringenin 7-O-rhamnoglucoside (Naringin), (2S)-4',7-dihydroxyflavanone 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (Liquiritin), Ferulic acid, P-coumaric acid, Cinnamic acid,  Myricetin, Quercitin, Kaempferol, Apigenin, 5,7,4’-trihydroxyflavanone (Naringenin), Liquiritigenin and Flavone. Efficiency of the methanol extract of licorice roots as anticancer agent for breast, colon and liver was tested. The results showed that the IC₅₀ of the extract was 28.1µg / ml for anti-colon cancer and 31.3µg/ml for anti-breast cancer, while it was 3.42µg/ml for anti-hepatic cancer. The antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH radical scavenging method. This extract showed strong antioxidant activity against DPPH as compared with vitamin C. Antimicrobial activity of the methanol extract of licorice roots was studied against three bacterial and four fungal strains at concentration 0.1ml and 0.3ml (10mg/1ml). The extract showed strong inhibitory effect for most species at concentration 0.3ml.

Keywords: Glycyrrhiza glabra, phenolic, Antitumor, antioxidant and antimicrobial.