Deciphering the Anti-Listerial Activity and Phytochemical Composition of Licorice Root Extract Using LC-MS/MS in Combination with In Vitro and Computational Evaluations
Licorice roots are a rich source of bioactive compounds with multiple biological activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of licorice root extract against a range of <i>Listeria</i> strains. In addition, the correlation of its phytochemical compositi...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Christodoulos Michael Atalanti Christou Ana Maria Gómez-Caravaca Vlasios Goulas Catherine E. D. Rees George Botsaris |
| author_facet | Christodoulos Michael Atalanti Christou Ana Maria Gómez-Caravaca Vlasios Goulas Catherine E. D. Rees George Botsaris |
| author_sort | Christodoulos Michael |
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| description | Licorice roots are a rich source of bioactive compounds with multiple biological activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of licorice root extract against a range of <i>Listeria</i> strains. In addition, the correlation of its phytochemical composition with antimicrobial properties was also investigated. Thus, the bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of licorice root extract on seven <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> strains, <i>L. grayi</i>, <i>L. seeligeri</i>, and <i>L. ivanovii</i> were determined. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations ranged from 31.3 to 62.5 µg mL<sup>−1</sup> and from 62.5 to 250 µg mL<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The phytochemical composition of the extract was also analyzed using advanced LC-DAD- qTOF-MS; it is composed of fifty-one compounds belonging to different subgroups of flavonoids and triterpenoids. Subsequently, the anti-Listeria potency of the most abundant phytochemicals was determined using the AntiBac-Pred web tool. In silico calculation showed that liquiritin-apioside and licorice glycoside C1/C2 were strong growth inhibitors of <i>L. monocytogenes</i>, as their potency was comparable to well-known antibiotic substances. Overall, the present study demonstrates the potent antimicrobial effect of licorice root extract and reveals its active phytochemicals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-23e99c1ce3bd4cb09278dece21d1483d |
| institution | DOAJ |
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| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-23e99c1ce3bd4cb09278dece21d1483d2025-08-20T02:50:41ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-05-011510527610.3390/app15105276Deciphering the Anti-Listerial Activity and Phytochemical Composition of Licorice Root Extract Using LC-MS/MS in Combination with In Vitro and Computational EvaluationsChristodoulos Michael0Atalanti Christou1Ana Maria Gómez-Caravaca2Vlasios Goulas3Catherine E. D. Rees4George Botsaris5Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos 3603, CyprusDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos 3603, CyprusDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, University of Granada, c/Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos 3603, CyprusSutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, College Road, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UKDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos 3603, CyprusLicorice roots are a rich source of bioactive compounds with multiple biological activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of licorice root extract against a range of <i>Listeria</i> strains. In addition, the correlation of its phytochemical composition with antimicrobial properties was also investigated. Thus, the bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of licorice root extract on seven <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> strains, <i>L. grayi</i>, <i>L. seeligeri</i>, and <i>L. ivanovii</i> were determined. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations ranged from 31.3 to 62.5 µg mL<sup>−1</sup> and from 62.5 to 250 µg mL<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The phytochemical composition of the extract was also analyzed using advanced LC-DAD- qTOF-MS; it is composed of fifty-one compounds belonging to different subgroups of flavonoids and triterpenoids. Subsequently, the anti-Listeria potency of the most abundant phytochemicals was determined using the AntiBac-Pred web tool. In silico calculation showed that liquiritin-apioside and licorice glycoside C1/C2 were strong growth inhibitors of <i>L. monocytogenes</i>, as their potency was comparable to well-known antibiotic substances. Overall, the present study demonstrates the potent antimicrobial effect of licorice root extract and reveals its active phytochemicals.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5276antimicrobial activityflavanonesextract<i>Glycyrrhiza uralensis</i><i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>molecular docking |
| spellingShingle | Christodoulos Michael Atalanti Christou Ana Maria Gómez-Caravaca Vlasios Goulas Catherine E. D. Rees George Botsaris Deciphering the Anti-Listerial Activity and Phytochemical Composition of Licorice Root Extract Using LC-MS/MS in Combination with In Vitro and Computational Evaluations Applied Sciences antimicrobial activity flavanones extract <i>Glycyrrhiza uralensis</i> <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> molecular docking |
| title | Deciphering the Anti-Listerial Activity and Phytochemical Composition of Licorice Root Extract Using LC-MS/MS in Combination with In Vitro and Computational Evaluations |
| title_full | Deciphering the Anti-Listerial Activity and Phytochemical Composition of Licorice Root Extract Using LC-MS/MS in Combination with In Vitro and Computational Evaluations |
| title_fullStr | Deciphering the Anti-Listerial Activity and Phytochemical Composition of Licorice Root Extract Using LC-MS/MS in Combination with In Vitro and Computational Evaluations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deciphering the Anti-Listerial Activity and Phytochemical Composition of Licorice Root Extract Using LC-MS/MS in Combination with In Vitro and Computational Evaluations |
| title_short | Deciphering the Anti-Listerial Activity and Phytochemical Composition of Licorice Root Extract Using LC-MS/MS in Combination with In Vitro and Computational Evaluations |
| title_sort | deciphering the anti listerial activity and phytochemical composition of licorice root extract using lc ms ms in combination with in vitro and computational evaluations |
| topic | antimicrobial activity flavanones extract <i>Glycyrrhiza uralensis</i> <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> molecular docking |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5276 |
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