| Research Abstract |
1. Chemical investigation was carried out intensively on the methylene chloride extract (PT ext.) of Glycyrrhiza glabra root (Russian licorice) to afford four minor phenolic constituents, two isoflavanones (RL-Q and RL-R), one 3-arylcoumarine (RL-U) and one chromenochromane (RL-V), all of which were undescribed literally, Structures of these compounds were elucidated as 2',4'-dihydroxy-[6",6"-dimethylpyrano(2",3":7,8)]-isoflavanone, [6",6"-dimethylpyrno(2",3":7,8)]-2'-hydroxy,4'-methoxy-isoflavanone, 4',7-dihydroxy-[6",6"-dimethylpyno(2",3":2',3')]-3-arylcoumarin [6',6' -dimethylpyrano(2', 3' : 7, 8)]-benzopyran-3-ol, respectively, on the spectroscopic basis.
2. Constituents obtained from Russian licorice described above were tested for anti-microbial activity against gram-positive bacteria including MRSA, yeasts, moulds, and so on. Some of phenolic constituents of this licorice showed potent activity against wide variety of microorganisms.
3. The above constituents were assayed for anti
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-oxidative activity on linoleic acid, scavenging activity of superoxide anion (SOィイD3-(/)2ィエD3) generated in both xanthine-xanthine oxidase and microsomal systems, and preventing activity of lipid peroxidation in both microsomal and mitochondrial systems. Many of licorice constituents exhibited outstanding anti-oxidative activity in various assay systems indicating that licorice extract (PT ext.) is a promising agent for the prevention of disease in which active oxygen species are suspected to be implicated on the in-vitro basis. It is of particular interest to note that RL-M showed the most potent anti-oxidative activity among licorice constituents tested though it does not possess catechol moiety that is fond very commonly in naturally occurring antioxidants, Licorice extract also showed significant inhibitory activity against oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes, but this assay failed to assess anti-oxidative hemolysis activity of purified constituents due to their direct action to erythrocyte membrane. Less
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