Study and comparison of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of the native populations of licorice(Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) Iran

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is a family of Legominos, herbaceous, perennial and Iran is one of the countries exporting its root. This plant grows in different regions of Iran, hence the study of phytochemical diversity in different regions is important. This study was carried out to evaluate the content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of 2 cm diameter roots of licorice populations in 15 provinces and 30 regions of Iran in 2017 in October and were transferred to the laboratories of the Department of Horticulture of Zanjan University. Total phenol (Folin–Ciocalteu method), total flavonoid (Aluminum Chloride method), anthocyanin (pH difference method) and antioxidant activity (DPPH method) were studied. The results of analysis of variance of data showed that among 30 populations, for all traits, there was a significant difference in the level of one percent. Total phenol traits ranging from 456.05 to 826 mg gallic acid per 100 g, total flavonoid between 1909.25 to 292.62 mg of quercetin per 100 g, anthocyanin levels ranging from 6.89 to 26.24 mg cyanidine-3-glucoside in Liter, the antioxidant activity varied between 62.07% and 87.14%. There was a significant and positive correlation between phenol total phenotype and antioxidant activity at 1% level, but there was no significant correlation with total flavonoid, anthocyanin and height. Based on the results of cluster analysis, 30 G. glabra were divided into two main groups. The evaluation of populations in terms of phytochemical traits showed a high variation that N, KA, BA, T, E, Y, M, MR, and SB populations