Abstract
Objectives: The present study was designed to investigate the phytochemical analysis, antioxidant potential, and antibacterial activities of the traditionally used medicinal plant Glycyrrhiza glabra. 
 Methods: The plant secondary metabolites were extracted through cold percolation using methanol (MeOH) as a solvent. The MeOH extract was further fractionated in different solvents in increasing order of polarity. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. The antibacterial activity was studied by agar well diffusion method.
 Results: The antioxidant potential IC50 was found 43.13, 104.83, and 200.11 μg/ml for ethyl acetate (EtOAc), MeOH, and chloroform (CHCl3) extracts, respectively. The EtOAc fraction showed the potent antioxidant with IC50 43.13 μg/ml compared to the standard ascorbic acid 58.76 μg/ml. The antimicrobial activity exhibited by MeOH extract against Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6051) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P) zone of inhibition was 18 mm and 17 mm, for chloroform extracts 15 mm and 13 mm, and for EtOAc fraction 11 mm against Bacillus subtilis. The highest dilution that yielded no single bacteria colony on the nutrient agar plates for Bacillus subtilis and S. aureus of MeOH extract was found 0.39 mg/ml and 6.25 mg/ml, for chloroform extract 3.125 mg/ml and 6.25 mg/ml and EtOAc fraction against Bacillus subtilis was 12.50 mg/ml as minimum bactericidal concentration.
 Conclusion: The plant extracts showed potent antioxidant and antibacterial activity. The results support for using the G. glabra in bacterial infection which provides partial scientific validation for using the plant against bacterial infections.
Highlights
Nepal is regarded as the country of a showroom of biodiversity in terms of species richness at the global and continental level, respectively
The present study focused on the collection of traditionally used medicinal plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, extraction of plant secondary metabolites, and performed the antioxidant and antibacterial activity
This study offers a scientific rationale for the traditional use of this medicinal plant, for infectious diseases
Summary
Nepal is regarded as the country of a showroom of biodiversity in terms of species richness at the global and continental level, respectively. Around 7000 plant species are found in Nepal, among them, 1800 species are currently in use for folk medicine [1,2]. Despite our rich heritage and knowledge of the uses of medicinal plants to cure different diseases as drugs, little attention has been paid to harness the inexpensive remedies to modern requirements. Natural product is the high-value chemical entities derived from plant or microbial sources [3]. Traditional healers found that some plants had healing power, and this knowledge was passed down through the generations. This knowledge is systematized and used in Ayurveda, Tibetan medicine, homeopathy, and Unani system [5]. Medicinal plants have minimal toxicity, are costeffective, and pharmacologically active they provide an easy remedy for many human ailments as compared to the synthetic drugs which are a subject of adulteration and side effects [6]
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