SUMMARY
Glycyrrhiza glabra, commonly known as licorice, has traditionally been used in various medicinal preparations as expectorant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, anti allergic agent. It has also prominent role in skin whitening and has anti-inflammatory and esterogenic properties. This study aims to the characterization of the bioactive constituent glabridin in plant extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra in ethanol, methanol and ethyl acetate using UV-VIS and FTIR and HPLC. A wavelength scan (200-600 nm) by UV-Vis spectrophotometer was performed and the characteristic peaks were recorded. The scan confirmed presence of glabridin with ?max at 281 nm with a small number of additional phytochemicals indicated by the extra peaks. FTIR spectrum of 62% pure glabridin was compared to the spectra shown by the three extracts. Presence of glabridin in all the three extracts was corroborated by HPLC analysis with the retention time of 4.05 minute. Glabridin was also evaluated for its antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acne, causative agent of Acne vulgaris and found to have the detrimental effect at concentration 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm.