Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) Root and Its Application in Functional Yoghurt

Gamal M. Hamad^1, , Adel I. Abd Elaziz², Sabria A. Hassan¹, Manal Aly Shalaby³ and Adel Abdelrazek Abdel azim Mohdaly⁴

¹Food Technology Department, Arid Land Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria 21934, Egypt

²Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt

³Medical biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt

⁴Food Science and Technology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Egypt

Cite this paper:
Gamal M. Hamad, Adel I. Abd Elaziz, Sabria A. Hassan, Manal Aly Shalaby and Adel Abdelrazek Abdel azim Mohdaly. Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) Root and Its Application in Functional Yoghurt. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2020; 8(12):707-715. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-8-12-3

Abstract

Recently, consumers are paying much more attention to natural products from plants, mainly because of the general feeling that natural components are safe. The present research was undertaken in order to evaluate the potential application of licorice roots extract as a nutritional plant used in food industry. Chemical compositions, antimicrobial potency, and the potential antioxidant capacities of licorice root extract were determined. Furthermore, phytochemical, identification of bioactive compounds and antitumor potentials on breast cancer cell MDA-MB-361 was also carried out. The results revealed that the most licorice root contents were sugars and fiber (40.47 and 38.41 g/100g, respectively), and calcium was the main element (112.2 mg/100g). The licorice aqueous and ethanol extracts showed broad spectrum against tested microorganisms Gram positive and negative bacteria, yeast and fungi. Licorice aqueous extract showed strong antioxidant potential with IC₅₀ (29.92±2.43 mg/g) and exhibited considerable proapoptotic property on breast cancer cell, due to its high concentration of total phenolic compounds in the extract. Gallic acid was observed to be the most abundant phenolic component in licorice root aqueous extract. The sensory evaluation revealed that the fortified licorice yoghurt was preferred. Obtained results indicate that the tested licorice extract could have pharmaceutical potential in prevention of breast cancer and can be recommended as natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agent to be used in food industrial.

Keywords:
licorice phytochemical antioxidant antimicrobial breast cancer phenolic compound

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Can, P., Huan, W., Yulong, Z., Fulong, Y., Yue, S., Yaqin, Z., Ziyu, Z., Chijing, Z., Yunjing, Z., Jiayi, K. and Daiyin, P, "The difference of origin and extraction method significantly affects the intrinsic quality of licorice: A new method for quality evaluation of homologous materials of medicine and food", Food Chemistry, 340, 127907, 2021.
[2]	Antonella, D.Z., Chiara, C.M., Zsolt, S., Melinda, K., Zsolt, G., Alessandro, D., Valerio, G. and Zsolt, M, "Effect of an in-vivo and/or in-meat application of a liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) extract on fattening rabbits live performance, carcass traits and meat quality", Animal Feed Science and Technology, 260, 114333, 2020.
[3]	Ghannad, M.S., Mohammadi, A., Safiallahy, S., Faradmal, J., Azizi, M. and Ahmadvand, Z, "The effect of aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra on Herpes Simplex virus 1. Jundishapur", Journal of Microbiolgy, 7, 2014.
[4]	Wang, L., Yang, R., Yuan, B., Liu, Y. and Liu, C., "The antiviral and antimicrobial activities of licorice, a widely-used Chinese herb", Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B. 5, 310-315, 2015.
[5]	Mostafa, M.O., "Apoptotic and anti-Proliferative effects of licorice extract (Licochalcone A ) and paclitaxel chemotherapy on human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line (In vitro study)", Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University. Sep 2017.
[6]	Asif, M., “Chemistry and antioxidant activity of plants containing some phenolic compounds. Chemistry International, 1, 35-52, 2015.
[7]	Mircea, C., Cioanca, O., Iancui, C., Tataringa, G. and Hancianu, M., “In vitro antioxidant activity of some extracts obtained from agaricus bisporus brown, pleurotus ostreatus and fomes fomentarius”, Farmacia, 63, 927-933, 2015.
[8]	Yu-Jin, K., Da-Hye, S.,Tae-Ha, C. and Yong-Jae, L, "A Review of the pharmacological efficacy and safety of licorice root from corroborative clinical trial findings", Journal of Medicinal Food, 23(1), 2020.12-20.
[9]	Rosa, F.R., Arruda, A.F., Siqueira Egle, M.A and Arruda, S.F., "Phytochemical compounds and antioxidant capacity of Tucum-Do-Cerrado (Bactris setosa Mart), Brazil’s Native Fruit", Nutrients, 8, 110-117, 2016.
[10]	Fangliang, Y., Tiantian, C., Yujing, Z., Xitong, L., Guoxiang, S. and Zhenhong, C, "Quality assessment of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) from different sources by multiple fingerprint profiles combined with quantitative analysis, antioxidant activity and chemometric methods", Food Chemistry , 324, (2020). 126854
[11]	Bahmani, M., Sarrafchi, A., Shirzad, H., Shahinfard, N., Rafieian-Kopaei, M., Shahsavari, S., Baharvand-Ahmadi, B., Taherikalani, M. and Ghafourian, S, "Pharmaceutical, phytochemical, and economical potentials of Glycyrrhiza glabra L: a review", Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 8, 683–692, 2015.
[12]	Hassan, E., Akbar, K., Javad, H., Samad, N.E. and Lars-Gernot, O, "Genetic structure and variation in Iranian licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) populations based on morphological, phytochemical and simple sequence repeats markers", Industrial Crops & Products, 145, 112140, 2020.
[13]	Darwish, A.M.G., Hamad, G., and El Sohaimy, S.A, "Nutritional profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.)", Journal of Food Science and Technology, 1-21. 2018.
[14]	Fahey, J, "Moringa oleifera: A review of the Medical Evidence for its Nutritional, Therapeutic, and Prophylactic Properties Part 1", Trees for Life Journal, 1, 5. 2005.
[15]	AOAC. Official method of analysis 962.09 (17th Edition) Volume I. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Inc., Maryland, USA; 2000.
[16]	AOAC. Official Methods of Analysis. 17thEdn. Association official Analytical Chemists. Washington D.C.18, 2005.
[17]	Hamad, G.M., Taha, T.H., El-Deeb, N.M. and Alshehri, A.M.A, "Advanced trends in controlling Helicobacter pylori infectionsusing functional and therapeutically supplements in baby milk", Journal of Food Science and Technology, 52, 8156-8163, 2015.
[18]	Mohamed, H.H., Yasser, F.A., Abdel-Halem, M.E., Adel, A.A.M, and Mohamed, F.R, "Evaluation of Egyptian honeys and their floral origins: phenolic compounds, antioxidant activities, and antimicrobial characteristics", Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 20748–20756, 2020.
[19]	Hamad, G.M., Taha,T.H., Alshehri, A. and. El-Deeb, N.M "Myrrh as a Functional Food with Therapeutic Properties Against Colon Cancer in Traditional Meals", Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 17, 2016.
[20]	Li, P., Coleman, D.W., Spaulding, K.M., McClennen, W.H., Stafford, P.R. and Fife, D.J, "Fractionation and characterization of phenolic resins by high-performance liquid chromatography and gel-permeation chromatography combined with ultraviolet, refractive index, mass spectrometry and light-scattering detection", Journal of Chromatography A, 914(1-2), 147-159, 2001.
[21]	Ryan, B., Logan, B.J., Abraham, W.C. and Williams, J.M., "MicroRNAs, MiR-23a-3p and MiR-151-3p, Are Regulated in Dentate Gyrus Neuropil Following Induction of Long-Term Potentiation in Vivo", PLoS ONE, 12(1), 1-14, 2017.
[22]	Tamime, A.Y. and Robenson, R.K., Tamime and Robenson’s Yoghurt Science and Technology (3rd ed.). Cambridge, England, 2007, Woodhead Publishing Ltd and CRC Press LLC.
[23]	Darwish, A.M.G., Khalifa, R.E. and El Sohaimy, S.A., "Functional properties of chia seed mucilage supplemented in low fat yoghurt", Alexandria Science Exchange Journal, 39(3), 450-459, 2018.
[24]	Giulia, P., Laura, C., Sonia, S., Francisca, R. and Beatriz, P.P.O., "Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): A phytochemical and pharmacological review", Phytotherapy Research, 32, 2323-2339, 2018.
[25]	Soni, N., Mehta, S., Satpathy, G. and Gupta, R.K., "Estimation of nutritional, phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of dried fig (Ficus carica)", Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 3, 158-165, 2014.
[26]	Al Bachir, M. Al Adawi, M.A. and Al Kaid, A., "Effect of gamma irradiation on microbiological, chemical and sensory characteristics of Licorice root product", Radiation Physics Chemistry, 69, 333-338, 2004.
[27]	Ansari, M., Ikram, N., Najam, H., Fayyaz, I., Fayyaze, O., Ghafoor, I. and Khalid, N., "Essential trace metal (zinc, manganese, copper and iron) levels in plants of medicinal importance", Journal of Bioscience, 4, 95-99. 2004.
[28]	Jalal, B. and Zahra, M., "Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn) as a valuable medicinal plant", International journal of Advanced Biological and Biomedical Research, 1 (10), 1281-1288, 2013.
[29]	Karami, Z., Mirzaei, H., Emam-Djomeh, Z., Sadeghi, M. and Khomeiri, M., "Effect of harvest time on antioxidant activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract and evaluation of its antibacterial activity", International Food Research Journal, 20, 2951-2957, 2013.
[30]	Asad, A., Muhammad, Z., Nasir, R. and Komal, R., "Antimicrobial potential of Glycyrrhiza glabra", Journal of Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry, 1(2), 17-20, 2015.
[31]	Ahmed, M., Khaleeq, A. and Ahmad, S., "Antioxidant and antifungal activity of aqueous and organic extracts of licorice", World Applied Sciences Journal, 30 (11), 1664-1667, 2014.
[32]	Sanja, V., Filip, Š., Izabella, S., Istvan, Z., Imre, O. and Suzana, J., "Chemical composition, antioxidant and anticancer activity of licorice from Fruska Gora locality", Industrial Crops & Products, 112, 217-224, 2018.
[33]	Somaris, E., Quintana, D.H., David, V., Mónica, R. and García-Risco, T., "Fractionation and precipitation of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) phytochemicals by supercritical antisolvent (SAS) technique", LWT - Food Science and Technology, 126, 2020. 109315.
[34]	De Marchi, U., Biasutto, L., Garbisa, S., Toninello, A. and Zoratti, M., "Quercetin can act either as an inhibitor or an inducer of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore: A demonstration of the ambivalent redox character of polyphenols", Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1787, 1425-32, 2009.
[35]	Gaspar, J., Rodrigues, A., Laires, A., Silva, F., Costa, S., Monteiro, M. J., Monteiro, C. and Rueff, J., "On the mechanisms of genotoxicity and metabolism of quercetin" Mutagenesis, 9(5), 445-9, 1994.
[36]	Maoyuan, J., Shengjia, Z., Shasha, Y., Xia, L., Xiguo, H., Xinyi, W., Qin, S., Rui, L., Chaomei, F., Jinming, Z. and Zhen, Z., "An essential herbal medicine—licorice: A review of phytochemicals and its effects in combination preparations", Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 249, 2020. 112439
[37]	Wadood, A., Ghufran, M., Jamal, SB., Naeem, M., Khan, A., Ghaffar, R. and Asnad, R., "Phytochemical analysis of medicinal plants occurring in local area of mardan", Journal of Biochemistry and Analytical Biochemistry, 2, 1-4, 2013.
[38]	Abd El Azim, M.H.M., El-Gerby, M., Abdelgawad M.A.A. and El-Mesallamy, D.M. "Some biological effects of the phenolic content of Licorice roots (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.)", Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science, 5, 088-093, 2016.
[39]	Yu, L. and Beta, T., "Identification and antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds during production of bread from purple wheat grains", Molecules, 20, 15525-15549, 2015.
[40]	Laura, S., Antonella, S., Mariateresa, C., Francesco, C., Manuela, D., Domenico, T., Felice, R. and Giuseppe, R. "Phytocomplexes from liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) leaves — Chemical characterization and evaluation of their antioxidant, anti-genotoxic and anti-inflammatory activity", Fitoterapia, 82, 546-556, 2011.
[41]	Zheng, Y., Lee, J., Lee, E.H., In, G., Kim, J., Lee, M.H., Lee, O.H. and Kang, I.J., "A combination of Korean red ginseng extract and Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Extract enhances their individual anti-obesity properties in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C57BL/6J obese mice", Journal of Medicinal Food, 23, 215-223, 2020.
[42]	Chunyan, H., Huaqing, L., Juan, D., Baoqing, M., Hong, Q., Xinru,W., Shengai, Y. and Zhong, L., "Estrogenic activities of extracts of Chinese licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis)rootin MCF-7 breast cancer cells", Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 113, 209-216, 2009.
[43]	Wang, S., Shen, Y., Qiu, R., Chen, Z., Chen, Z. and Chen, W., "18 ß-Glycyrrhetinic acid exhibits potent antitumor effects against colorectal cancer via inhibition of cell proliferation and migration", International Journal of Oncology, 51(2), 615-624, 2017.
[44]	Zhou, Y. and Ho, W.S., "Combination of liquiritin, isoliquiritin and isoliquirigenin induce apoptotic cell death through upregulating p53 and p21 in the A549 nonsmall cell lung cancer cells", Oncology Reports, 31, 298-304, 2014.
[45]	Balestra, F. and Petracci, M., "Technofunctional ingredients for meat products:Current challenges", Sustainable Meat Production and Processing, (pp. 45-68). Academic Press. 2019.
[46]	Gabriel, M., Gabriel, R., Elisabeta, B., Liliana, G., Doina, A., Oana, N., Gabriela, V., Alina, D. "Studies on the production of probiotic dairy products based on milk and medicinal plant extracts", Journal of Agroalimentary Processes and Technologies, 15, 234-238, 2009.