SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis of proteins extracted from Glycyrrhiza glabra (L.) roots

Abstract

Glycyrrhiza glabra (L.) is a perennial, herbaceous, legume plant and it belongs to the Fabaceae family. Roots of this herb have numerous biologically active constituents: saponins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids and other substances. Due to its abundant composition, licorice is widely used in medicine [1] (e. g. 2% licorice roots extract, which contains 20% of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, is effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis [2]). Moreover, G. glabra roots have antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antimalarial and other important properties. Approved, that various amino acids have been found in the roots of licorice: serine, histidine, aspartic acid, glycine, tyrosine, threonine, glutamate, isoleucine, leucine, valine, proline, lysine, phenylalanine [3]. Proline has been found predominantly in fresh plant roots [4]. In this research, protein molecular mass was evaluated by SDS-PAGE. Materials: fresh Glycyrrhiza glabra (L.) roots collected in Vytautas Magnus University Botanical garden. Methods: protein extraction was made using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, prepared of 7.6 mM Na2HPO4, 2.3 mM NaH2PO4, 0.15 mM NaCl, pH=7.4); protein precipitation using ammonium sulphate; resuspension using PBS, pH=7.4; spectrophotometric (at 660 nm wavelength) protein determination by Lowry method; sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), using 10% polyacrylamide as the separating gel. Molecular mass of determined proteins was about 10-15 kDa. SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis was [...]