Sustainable Strategy for the Selective Recovery of Flavanones from Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaves with Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Properties

Submission 174

Poster-82

Presented by: Rita CELANO

Simona serio ^{1, 2}, Alessia Lambiase ^{3, 4}, Rita CELANO ^{1, 3}, Anna Lisa Piccinelli ^{1, 3}

¹ 1 Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy.

² 2 PhD Program in Drug Discovery and Development, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy.

³ 3 National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy.

⁴ 4 Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.

⁵ 5 Department of Genetics and University Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, University of Valencia, Spain.

⁶ 6 Department of Physiotherapy, European University of Valencia, Spain.

Glycyrrhiza glabra leaves (GGL) represent an underutilized by-product of the licorice supply chain, despite being a promising and sustainable source of bioactive flavanones. In this study, supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction (SFE-CO₂) was optimized as an environmentally friendly strategy for the selective recovery of leaf-exudate flavanones, primarily pinocembrin, licoflavanone, and glabranin. A Response Surface Methodology (RSM) approach, combined with UHPLC-UV profiling, was employed to systematically evaluate extraction parameters and identify optimal operating conditions. The best results were achieved at 40°C, 364 bar, 30 minutes, and a CO₂ flow rate of 2 L min⁻¹, maximizing flavanone enrichment while minimizing solvent consumption.

Under these optimized conditions, SFE-CO₂ produced high-purity extracts with a flavanone content of up to 31%, achieving approximately three-fold enrichment compared to conventional exhaustive extraction methods. Moreover, this approach outperformed traditional solvent-based liquid extraction in terms of selectivity, efficiency, and environmental impact. Path2Green assessment further confirmed the sustainability profile of the process, highlighting its potential for industrial scalability and reduced ecological footprint.

The biological activity of the SFE-CO₂ extract was investigated using a yeast model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) overexpressing α-synuclein. The extract significantly extended chronological lifespan and reduced intracellular oxidative stress. Pinocembrin, identified as the most abundant flavanone, demonstrated a key role by prolonging yeast lifespan and inhibiting α-synuclein fibril aggregation in vitro. Additionally, its efficacy was validated in a Drosophila melanogaster PD model, where it improved locomotor performance, decreased oxidative protein damage, and enhanced cellular energy metabolism, as evidenced by increased ATP levels and glycogen content.

Overall, these findings support the sustainable valorization of GGL into flavanone-enriched SFE-CO₂ extracts, highlighting their potential application in nutraceutical formulations aimed at promoting healthy aging and mitigating age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

PDF Abstract