The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the licochalcones A (1) and E (2) against drug resistant strains of clinical origin. The results indicate that the licochalcones had a broad inhibitory activity against tested bacteria. Compared to vancomycin and teicoplanin, these compounds provided weaker activity against non-MDR Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus but broader activity against MRSA and VRE strains. The results provide promising baseline information for the potential use of 1 and 2 from Glycyrrhiza inflata in the treatment of drug resistant bacterial infections.
TakagiK, IshiiY. (1967) Peptic ulcer inhibiting properties of a new fraction from licorice root (Fm100). I. Experiental peptic ulcer and general pharmacology. Arzneimittel-Forschung, 17, 1544–1547.
3.
KimKR, JeongCK, ParkKK, ChoiJH, ParkJH, LimSS, ChungWY. (2010) Anti-inflammatory effects of licorice and roasted licorice extracts on TPA-induced acute inflammation and collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2010, 709378.
4.
OhH, YoonG, ShinJC, ParkSM, ChoSS, ChoJH, LeeMH, LiuK, ChoYS, ChaeJI, ShimJH. (2016) Licochalcone B induces apoptosis of human oral squamous cell carcinoma through the extrinsic- and intrinsic-signaling pathways. International Journal of Oncology, 48, 1749–1757.
5.
ZhouT, DengX, QiuJ. (2012) Antimicrobial activity of licochalcone E against Staphylococcus aureus and its impact on the production of staphylococcal alpha-toxin. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 22, 800–805.
6.
TsukiyamaR, KatsuraH, TokurikiN, KobayashiM. (2002) Antibacterial activity of licochalcone A against spore-forming bacteria. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 46, 1226–1230.
7.
ParkMR, KimSG, ChoIA, OhD, KangKR, LeeSY, MoonSM, ChoSS, YoonG, KimCS, OhJS, YouJS, KimDK, SeoYS, ImHJ, KimJS. (2015) Licochalcone-A induces intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis via ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation-mediated TRAIL expression in head and neck squamous carcinoma FaDu cells. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 77, 34–43.
8.
YuSJ, ChoIA, KangKR, JungYR, ChoSS, YoonG, OhJS, YouJS, SeoYS, LeeGJ, LeeSY, KimDK, KimCS, KimSG, JeongMA, KimJS. (2017) Licochalcone-E induces caspase-dependent death of human pharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells through the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways. Oncology Letters, 13, 3662–3668.
9.
SatoY, SuzakiS, NishikawaT, KiharaM, ShibataH, HigutiT. (2000) Phytochemical flavones isolated from Scutellaria barbata and antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 72, 483–488.
10.
ChoiJG, JeongSI, KuCS, SathishkumarM, LeeJJ, MunSP, KimSM. (2009) Antibacterial activity of hydroxyalkenyl salicylic acids from sarcotesta of Ginkgo biloba against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. Fitoterapia, 80, 18–20.
11.
IwasaT, HigashideE, ShibataM. (1971) Studies of validamycins, new antibiotics. 3. Bioassay methods for the determination of validamycin. Journal of Antibiotics (Tokyo), 24, 114–118.