Indian Journal of Science The International Journal for Science ISSN EISSN Discovery Publication. All Rights Reserved

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1 Indian Journal of Science The International Journal for Science ISSN EISSN Discovery Publication. All Rights Reserved Analysis Phytochemical analysis of Glycyrrhiza glabra Publication History Received: 23 October 2015 Accepted: 26 November 2015 Published: 1 December 2015 Citation Radha R, Rajaathi G. Phytochemical analysis of Glycyrrhiza glabra. Indian Journal of Science, 2015, 22(76), Page59

2 Phytochemical analysis of Glycyrrhiza glabra Radha.R, Rajaathi.G Department of Food Service Management and Dietetics, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for women, Coimbatore The World Health Organization estimates that over 80 percent of people in developing countries depend upon traditional medicine for treatment of disease in their primary health care. India is one of the leading countries in Asia in terms of the wealth of traditional knowledge systems related to the use of plant species and also known to harbor a rich diversity of higher plant species of which 7500 are known as medicinal plants and 4635 communities for human and veterinary health care. (Kala, 2005) Plants contain phytochemical that have effects on the body. There may be some effects even when consumed in the small level that typify culinary spicing, and some herbs are toxic in larger quantities.( Khatta, 2010) Since the beginning of human civilization, medicinal plants have been used by mankind for its therapeutic value. Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years and an impressive number of modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources. Many of these isolations were based on the uses of the agents in traditional medicine. (Das, 2010). Glycyrrhiza glabra (GG) (Licorice or sweet wood, Fabaceae - Papilionaceae) is a traditional medicinal herb that grows in various parts of the world and it has ethnobotanical history. Its roots have some nutritive value and medicinal properties. The dried roots of this plant were employed by Iraqi, Egyptian, Chinese, Greek, Indian, as food and medicinal remedies for thousands of years (Olukoga and Donaldson, 1998; Ross, 2001) The licorice root extract has been widely used in the food industry as a sweetening agent, a flavour potentiator and a flavour modifier. Licorice root contains various sugars (up to 18%), flavonoids, saponoids, sterols, amino acids, starch and gums. The active ingredient in licorice is Page60

3 mainly glycyrrhizin, a triterpenoid glycoside, which constitutes up to 14% of the total soluble solids content and is responsible for the characteristic sweet taste of the licorice root extracts. The present study was undertaken to explore the Chemical composition, Minerals content, Antioxidants content, Polyphenols and Flavonoids using standard screening methods. Materials and Methods Plant collection and identification: The roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) were procured from SKM Siddha and Ayurvedha Company (India) Limited and authenticated by a Botanist. Chemicals: All the materials and reagents used for the study were procured from Precision Scientific Company limited, Coimbatore Preparation of Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract : Roots were collected,dried in shade and grind with mechanical grinder. About 50g powder poured in separating funnel with 50% methanol for 48hrs. The collected residues were kept at C in water bath to concentrate it. After that it is transferred and sent through hot air oven to dry it. Crude extract was prepared and used for the studies. Phytochemical screening: he term phytochemicals is a broad name for a wide variety of compounds produced by plants. Standard screening test were carried out for various plant constituents. The prepared crude extract were screened for presence or absence of secondary metabolites, for the chemical composition, mineral analysis, antioxidants content and polyphenols and flavonoids content. Page61

4 Table 1 Chemical composition of licorice (% on dry weight basis) Components Percentage (%) Ash 4.92 Crude protein 8.19 Ether extract 1.38 Crude fiber 36.8 % Nitrogen free extract (N.F.E) (by difference) Moisture 8.09 % Nitrogen free extract=100-(ash+protein+ether extract+crude fiber). Table 2 Minerals content of raw and ethanol extract on licorice root (mg/100g on Dry Weight Basis) Minerals Licorice (raw) root (DWB) Ethanol extract (DWB) Water extract (DWB) Mg Na Zn Mn Fe Ca Page62

5 K Cu The results in Table (2) showed that raw, ethanol or water extract of licorice contained some micro-elements such as Cu, Zn, Mn and Mg. The ethanol extract contains more Zn and Cu than the water extract, while water extract contains more Na than ethanol extract, but both contain nearly the same content of Mg. On the other hand Al-Bachir (2004) reported that licorice root solution contained 5 mg/g calcium, 23.2 mg/g potassium and 17.2 mg/g sodium. Ansari et al. (2004) noticed that Glycyrrhiza glabra contained more than50 µg/g copper whereas it was very rich in Fe contents >4000 µg/g. Finally the difference between the results of the present study and the results of the other investigators may be due to one or more of the following reasons: type, varieties, geographical origins, environmental condition or the method applied in the extraction-transportation and storage of the root. Table 3 Antioxidants content of licorice root (mg/100g on dry weight basis) Components mg/100g (DWB) Total phenol Total flavonoids Tannins Saponins Carotenoids Vitamin C 1.28 Results in Table (3) showed that licorice contains reasonable amounts of total phenols, flavonoids, saponins. It also contains moderate amounts of tannins and carotenoids. These data are in close agreement with results represent in Sharma (2004) who reported that licorice contains about 5-20% saponins. Page63

6 Phytochemical analysis of Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract showed that it contains saponin, triterpenes (glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid and liquirtic acid), flavoniods (liquirtin, isoflavonoids and formononetin) and other constituents such as coumarins, simple sugar and polysaccharide like starch, pectin, amino acids, tannins, choline, phytosterols, mineral salts and various other substance (Fukai et al., 1998). An extract of licorice roots has been reported recently to possess scavenging effects against peroxynitrite as well as nitric oxide, but the active principles were not individually established. The phenolic compounds isolated and investigated may be responsible, at least in part, for such peroxynitrite scavenging activity (Yokozawa et al., 2005). Results in Table (4) showed that polyphenol and flavonoids of Licorice contained high contents of kaempherol and cinnamic acid then apignin and Myrcetin. In contrast, its content of resrocenol and protocatechuic acid were lower than other components. On the other hand salicylic acid and quercetin were not detected. (Hirano et al., 2001) demonstrated that the components structure of Rutin, cinnamic acid, Quercetin, and Kaempherol were the best scavenging of free radicals. Table 4 Polyphenols and flavonoids in licorice ethanol extract (µg/g Dry Weight Basis) of the root Compounds Root µg/g(root)dwb Resrocenol Protocatechuic acid OH-benzoic acid Phenol Vanillin Page64

7 p-coumaric Ferulic acid Salicylic acid Rutin Myrcetin Apignin Cinnamic acid Quercetin Kaempherol The more important compounds are glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhizic acid, which are believed to be partly responsible for anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti- diuretic, antiepileptic, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-viral activities, antiallergic and anti-oxidant property of the plant as well as their ability to fight low blood pressure (Ross, 2001; Arystanova et al., 2001; Al Qarawi et al., 2001). Furthermore, G. glabra extract have been shown to possess anti-depressant-like, memory enhancing activities and produce anti-thrombotic effects. On other hand, the root extracts are reported to exhibit antiangiogenic activities and radio-protective effects (Vaya et al., 1997; Belinky et al., 1998). The other important compound is glabridin, it is the major flavonoid, present specifically in licorice; it has various physiological activities such as cytotoxic, anti-tumor promoting, antimicrobial, estrogenic and anti\ proliferative activity against human breast cancer cells. It also affects melanogensis, inflammation, low \ density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and protection of mitochondria functions from oxidative stresses (Khatta and Simpson, 2010). Glabridin is reported to be a potent anti-oxidant towards LDL oxidation (Vaya et al., 1997; Belinky et al., 1998), where as isoliquritigenin is known to have vasore-laxant effect, anti-platelet, anti-viral, estrogenic activity and has protective potential against cerebral ischemic injury (Zhan and Yang, 2006). Page65

8 Licorice roots contains flavonoids, which have lipophilic characteristic and antioxidative properties (Rice -Evans et al., 1996), among several flavonoid and isoflavan glabridin that protect LDL from oxidation induced by free radical generating system (Vaya et al., 1997; Zhan and Yang, 2006). The anti-oxidant activity of flavonoids is related to their chemical structure (Rice- Evans et al., 1996). Consumption of polyphenolic flavonoids in the diet was inversely associated with morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease (Hertog et al., 1993). Polyphenolic flavonoids may prevent coronary artery disease by reducing plasma cholesterol levels and their ability to inhibit LDL oxidation (Powell, 2005). Antihyperlipilaemic and anti-hypertriglyrceridaemic properties of G. glabra have also been reported (Sitohy et al., 1991). The liver damage caused by pathogens as well as chemical agents is of similar nature and a proper treatment regime or plan is absent for both. The fact that reliable liver drugs are explicitly inadequate in allopathic medicine urged the scientists to explore herbal remedies (Trivedi and Rawal, 2000). In traditional medical practices, followed throughout the world, herbs play a major role in the management of various liver disorders. Conclusion: The Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract have significant antibacterial and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. Glycyrrhiza glabra was also considered an expectorant and carminative, flavouring agent, depressant, antimicrobial, hypolipidemic, antianthersclerotic, antiviral, hypotensive, heptoprotective, antimutagenic, antipyretic, anti inflammatory agent. References: 1. Al Bachir, M; Al Adawi, M. A. and Al Kaid, A. (2004). Effect of gamma irradiation on microbiological, chemical and sensory characteristics of licorice root product. Radiation Pysics Chem., 69: Page66

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