Efficiency of Licorice and Mustard Extracts as Anticancer, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Agents
Abstract: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of licorice and mustard extracts as antioxidant, anticancer and its cytotoxicity on liver, breast and colon. Furthermore study the hypocholesterolemic effect of licorice and mustard extracts.Results indicatid that: oil and protein contents were higher in mustard whereas fiber content was higher in licorice. This study illustrated that K and Zn were present at a high level in mustard seeds while, Ca was present at a high level in licorice root.
Separation and estimation of polyphenols and flavonoids were carried out. Results indicated that licorice ethanolic extract contained Kaempherol, Cinnamic acid, Apigenin, Myrictin, Coumarin and Rutin, while, mustard ethanolic extract contained Kaempherol, Quercetin and Cinnamic acid.
Total phenols, total chlorophylls, tannins and saponin contents were higher in licorice than in mustard.
The ethanol extract of licorice was more effective than its water extract and mustard as natural source of antioxidants, in all evaluation methods used (microsomes, DPPH, Deoxyribose, and oxidative rancidity).
Ethanolic extract of mustard was more effective than licorice as antimicrobial material against all investigated microbes (Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger and Saccharomycess servicea) using zone inhibition method at 300, 600 and 900 mg/ml.
Both of licorice and mustard ethanolic extracts (500-1000 mg/kg body weight) decreased significantly serum cholesterol, triglyceride, total lipids and LDL of rats with high cholesterol level (254.6 mg/dl). On the other hand, feeding rats with high cholesterol level on a basal diet and licorice or mustard ethanolic extract decreased their liver function parameters (ALT and AST ) Moreover, treated rats (with high cholesterol level) with licorice extract at 1000 mg/kg improved significantly their kidney function parameters (uric acid,urea and creatinine).
Licorice had a higher activity against liver cancer (HEPG2) (IC50= 16.1 µg/ml). While mustard had a good activity against breast cancer (MCF 7) (IC50= 19.5 µg/ml) than licorice.

Keywords: licorice, mustard, antioxidant, antimicrobial, cholesterol, anticancer.
Publication year 2009
Organization Name
Country Egypt
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    الدكتور/ محمد خيرى السيد أستاذ الصناعات الغذائية- كلية الزراعة - جامعة القاهرة
    الدكتور/ سلوى بيومى المجولى أستاذ الصناعات الغذائية – كلية الزراعة - جامعة القاهرة
Agris Categories Diet and diet-related diseases
Proposed Agrovoc licorice,;antimicrobial,;anticancer.;
Publication Type PhD Thesis
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