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Background <p><i>Glycyrrhiza uralensis</i> Fisch. (<i>G. uralensis</i>) leaves are an abundant agricultural residue containing polysaccharides and phenolic compounds, but their extraction is limited by the compact plant cell-wall matrix. This study applied pectinase-assisted solid-state processing to enhance the extraction and functional properties of bioactive compounds from <i>G. uralensis</i> leaves.</p> Results <p>Compared with the non-enzymatic control (GLP), the enzymatically treated product (EGLP) showcased higher soluble polysaccharide content, increasing from 266.06 ± 1.58 to 319.40 ± 4.19&#xa0;mg/g, and higher total polyphenol content, increasing from 59.47 ± 0.63 to 63.99 ± 0.81&#xa0;mg/g. FT-IR spectroscopy detected cleavage of glycosidic and pectic ester bonds, while monosaccharide profiling showed an increase in galacturonic acid from 3.49% to 5.87%, indicating preferential degradation of pectic domains. Untargeted metabolomics identified 892 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) between EGLP and GLP, with glycosides representing a major altered class. Several glucoside metabolites, mainly flavonoid-related glycosides, showed increased relative abundance and were positively correlated with galacturonic acid content and antioxidant indices. In vitro assays revealed superior radical-scavenging and reducing capacities of EGLP, while in the AAPH-induced zebrafish oxidative stress model, EGLP at 50&#xa0;µg/mL offered greater protection than GLP, as indicated by improved body length, reduced yolk-sac enlargement, and normalized developmental progression. SEM, XRD, TGA and hydration-property analyses further supported cell-wall loosening, reduced structural order, and improved solubility after enzymatic treatment. Molecular docking based on a representative endopolygalacturonase model revealed stable binding of 7 key glycosides to pectinase (binding energies ≤ − 7.9&#xa0;kcal/mol, 6–12 hydrogen bonds).</p> Conclusions <p>Pectinase-mediated processing integrated cell-wall disassembly with flavonoid glycoside enrichment, significantly enhanced antioxidant properties, and provided green technological support for the high-value utilization of <i>G. uralensis</i> leaf waste.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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From agricultural waste to antioxidant resource: pectinase hydrolysis unlocks the bioactive potential of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月21日

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  • Man Zhou,
  • Yifeng Song,
  • Na Liu,
  • Qier Mu,
  • Yun Liu,
  • Xiaoping An,
  • Jingwei Qi

摘要

Background

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (G. uralensis) leaves are an abundant agricultural residue containing polysaccharides and phenolic compounds, but their extraction is limited by the compact plant cell-wall matrix. This study applied pectinase-assisted solid-state processing to enhance the extraction and functional properties of bioactive compounds from G. uralensis leaves.

Results

Compared with the non-enzymatic control (GLP), the enzymatically treated product (EGLP) showcased higher soluble polysaccharide content, increasing from 266.06 ± 1.58 to 319.40 ± 4.19 mg/g, and higher total polyphenol content, increasing from 59.47 ± 0.63 to 63.99 ± 0.81 mg/g. FT-IR spectroscopy detected cleavage of glycosidic and pectic ester bonds, while monosaccharide profiling showed an increase in galacturonic acid from 3.49% to 5.87%, indicating preferential degradation of pectic domains. Untargeted metabolomics identified 892 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) between EGLP and GLP, with glycosides representing a major altered class. Several glucoside metabolites, mainly flavonoid-related glycosides, showed increased relative abundance and were positively correlated with galacturonic acid content and antioxidant indices. In vitro assays revealed superior radical-scavenging and reducing capacities of EGLP, while in the AAPH-induced zebrafish oxidative stress model, EGLP at 50 µg/mL offered greater protection than GLP, as indicated by improved body length, reduced yolk-sac enlargement, and normalized developmental progression. SEM, XRD, TGA and hydration-property analyses further supported cell-wall loosening, reduced structural order, and improved solubility after enzymatic treatment. Molecular docking based on a representative endopolygalacturonase model revealed stable binding of 7 key glycosides to pectinase (binding energies ≤ − 7.9 kcal/mol, 6–12 hydrogen bonds).

Conclusions

Pectinase-mediated processing integrated cell-wall disassembly with flavonoid glycoside enrichment, significantly enhanced antioxidant properties, and provided green technological support for the high-value utilization of G. uralensis leaf waste.

Graphical abstract