title: In vitro antioxidant activity of extracts of Sybaris liquorice roots from Southern Italy.
abstract: The antioxidant properties of extracts of Sybaris liquorice roots have been assessed using 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay. The extracts, obtained by Soxhlet extraction (Et(2)O, AcOEt, MeOH and BuOH) of the yellow (inner part) and brown (cortex) root powders ensuing from decortication of the raw dry roots, followed by separation and powderisation, were analysed for their scavenging activity by evaluating the colourimetric decrease in the absorbance of DPPH. The highest antioxidant activity (98.39 ± 0.56%) was observed in the case of the Et(2)O extract of the brown powder, at a concentration of 3.33 mg mL(-1). Moreover, the total phenolic content of the extracts was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and expressed as milligram gallic acid equivalent per gram of dry extract. Our results show that the Et(2)O extract of the liquorice root cortex could be used as an attractive natural source of antioxidant additives for food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy. b.gabriele@unical.it
authors.forename: Bartolo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gabriele
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carchedi
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Plastina
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D007558:Italy; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl