Anti-oxidant constituents of the roots and stolons of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Jun 13;55(12):4691-7. doi: 10.1021/jf0703553. Epub 2007 May 22.

Abstract

As part of a search for new cancer chemopreventive agents, a new chalcone derivative (1), a novel group of neolignan lipid esters (2), and seven known phenolic compounds (formononetin, glabridin, hemileiocarpin, hispaglabridin B, isoliquiritigenin, 4'-O-methylglabridin, and paratocarpin B) (3-9) were isolated from the roots and stolons of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). The structures of compound 1 and the individual components of isolate 2 were elucidated using various spectroscopic and chemical methods. All isolates were tested in an authentic peroxynitrite anti-oxidant assay. Of these compounds, hispaglabridin B (6), isoliquiritigenin (7), and paratocarpin B (9) were found to be the most potent anti-oxidant agents. Furthermore, isoliquiritigenin (7) was demonstrated to prevent the incidence of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon and lung tumors in mice when administered at a dose of 300 mg/kg.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine / toxicity
  • Adenocarcinoma / chemically induced
  • Adenocarcinoma / prevention & control
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification*
  • Carcinogens / toxicity
  • Chalcones / isolation & purification
  • Chalcones / pharmacology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Colonic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Glycyrrhiza / chemistry*
  • Hydrolysis
  • Lung Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Lung Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Plant Roots / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Carcinogens
  • Chalcones
  • isoliquiritigenin
  • 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine