Enzyme-assisted extraction of glycyrrhizic acid from licorice roots using heat reflux and ultrasound methods

Licorice is extensively used in the food, pharmaceutical, and tobacco industries. The most important biologically active compound in licorice root is glycyrrhizic acid (GA) or glycyrrhizin, which is considered as a low-calorie natural sweetener. The sweetness is nearly 100 times as much as that of sucrose. This study investigated the effects of Multizyme (R) Cellulase CEP, Enzeco (R) Hemicellulase concentrate, and Enzeco (R) Pectinase Plus (0.2, 1, 2, 3% w/v) en zyme pretreatments on total licorice extraction and glycyrrhizic acid extraction yields (%) using heat reflux and ultrasound-assisted extraction. Increased concentrations of cellulase and hemicellulase increased total licorice extraction significantly (p < 0.05). At a 3% con tent of Multizyme (R) Cellulase CEP concentrate, the total licorice extraction yield upsurged by 42.77% +/- 0.38 and 44.95% +/- 3.46 using heat reflux and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods, respectively (p < 0.05). The enzymatic pretreatment of licorice roots by Enzeco (R) Pectinase Plus using heat reflux and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods did not include significant effects on the total licorice root extraction yield (p < 0.05). Sudden increases in glycyrrhizic acid extraction yield (%) occur as a result of the significant concentration enhancement of Multizyme (R) Cellulase CEP in heat reflux and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods (p < 0.05). Results revealed that enzymatic pretreatment of licorice roots by Multizyme (R) Cellulase CEP through heat reflux and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods is an effective method in terms of total licorice and glycyrrhizic acid extraction yield due to the release of intercellular compounds.