Chemical composition, antioxidant and anticancer activity of licorice from Fruska Gora locality

The present study was undertaken in order to evaluate the potential application of fresh and dry roots and leaves ethylacetate extracts of licorice from locality of Fruska Gora (Serbia) as a new source of valuable bioactive compounds with health benefits. Forty bioactive compounds have been quantified using LC-MS-MS and remarkable differences have been found among the extracts. The most abundant compounds were observed in the extract of fresh root. Therefore, this extract showed the strongest antioxidant potential and was the most effective that induced noticeable necrosis on breast MDA-MB-361 adenocarcinoma cell line and exhibited considerable proapoptotic property on SiHa ovarian cancer cell line. All presented results indicate fresh root of tested plant could have pharmacological potential, especially as a valuable source of natural antioxidants and/or phytoestrogens, which could indicate its long term use in prevention and/or therapy of oxidative stress-related diseases including some types of cancer.