Analysis of functional gene polymorphism in Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Glycyrrhiza uralensis is widely used in Chinese herbal compound prescriptions. Itcontains various natural active components, among them glycyrrhizic acid is believed tobe the main effective constituent. The biosynthetic pathway of glycyrrhizic acid iscontrolled and regulated by many different enzymes. In our studies two functional genescoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary CoA reductase (HMGR) and squalene synthase (SQS)were selected as target genes. Several kinds of polymorphism were discovered in thecDNA sequences and amino acid sequences of the two genes, and which inflected thelevel of glycyrrhizic acid in G. uralensis

Cardioprotective Effects of Glycyrrhizic Acid Against Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Ischemia in Rats

The aim of the present study was to look into the possible protective effects of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) against isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial infarction in Sprague-Dawley rats. The effect of three doses of glycyrrhizic acid in response to isoproterenol (ISO)-induced changes in 8-isoprostane, lipid hydroperoxides, super oxide dismutase and total glutathione were evaluated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, ISO-control, glycyrrhizic acid alone (in three doses-5, 10 and 20 mg/kg BW) and ISO with glycyrrhizic acid (in three doses) groups. ISO was administered at 85 mg/kg BW at two consecutive days and glycyrrhizic acid was administered intraperitoneally for 14 days. There was a significant increase in 8-isoprostane (IP) and lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) level in ISO-control group. A significant decrease in total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total glutathione (GSH) was seen with ISO-induced acute myocardial infarction. Treatment with GA significantly increased SOD and GSH levels and decreased myocardial LPO and IP levels. Histopathologically, severe myocardial necrosis and nuclear pyknosis and hypertrophy were seen in ISO-control group, which was significantly reduced with GA treatment. Gycyrrhizic acid treatment proved to be effective against isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial infarction in rats and GA acts as a powerful antioxidant and reduces the myocardial lipid hydroperoxide and 8-isoprostane level

AKR1C1 overexpression attenuates the inhibitory effect of glycyrrhizic acid on gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration

Purpose: To investigate the involvement of aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C1 (AKR1C1) in glycyrrhizic acid-mediated gastric cancer.Methods: Immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blot were used to assess AKR1C1 expression in gastric cancer. Cell proliferation was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assay. Apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Transwell and wound healing assays were performed to investigate cell invasion and migration, respectively.Results: AKR1C1 was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cells (p < 0.01). AKR1C1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer, but promoted cell apoptosis. Glycyrrhizic acid treatment reduced AKR1C1 expression in gastric cancer cells (p < 0.05). AKR1C1 overexpression attenuated the glycyrrhizic acid-induced increase in gastric cancer cell apoptosis as well as the decrease in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.Conclusion: AKR1C1 contributes to gastric cancer cell proliferation and metastasis and counteracts the suppressive effects of glycyrrhizic acid on gastric cancer cell proliferation and metastasis

The synergic effect of glycyrrhizic acid and low frequency electromagnetic field on angiogenesis in chick chorioallantoic membrane

Objective: Much attention is paid to angiogenesis due to its mutual role in health and disease. Therefore, the effect of various chemical and physical agents on inhibition of this process has been recently studied. This study was conducted to investigate the synergic effect of glycyrrhizic acid and electromagnetic field on angiogenesis. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 44 Ross fertilized chicken eggs were randomly divided into four groups, one control and three experimental. Control group was kept with dimethyl sulfoxide on the eighth day, experimental group 1 treated with 200 gauss, 50 Hz electromagnetic field on the 10th day, experimental group 2 treated with 1 mg/ml glycyrrhizic acid on the eighth day, and experimental group 3 simultaneously treated with glycyrrhizic acid on the eighth day and electromagnetic field on the 10th day. On the 12th day, the images of chorioallantoic membrane samples were prepared using photostreomicroscope and the number and length of vessels were measured. Results: The mean number of vessels in the experimental groups 1 and 3 (29.31 +/- 3.60 and 27.43 +/- 4.61, respectively) was not significantly different from that in the control group (29.11 +/- 4.76) (p>0.05). The length of vessels in the experimental groups 1 and 3 (52.35 +/- 3.25 mm and 54.94 +/- 4.70 mm, respectively) decreased significantly (p<0.05) compared with the control group (61.79 +/- 6.46 mm). In experimental group 2, both length and number of vessels (54.53 +/- 5.85 mm and 23.96 +/- 3.94) decreased significantly compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Electromagnetic field and glycyrrhizic acid separately led to inhibition of angiogenesis. However, use of electromagnetic field accompanied with glycyrrhizic acid not only did not increase but also decreased the inhibitory effect

An evaluation the effect of glycyrrhetinic and glycyrrhizic acids derived from licorice extract on gastric cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Gastric cancer is the second most prevalent carcinogenic disease and surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are its principal treatment modalities. However, in most cases, poor response to treatment and adverse side effects are observed regarding these modalities. Given the lack of response to treatment and growing rates of gastric cancer, researchers are trying to come up with more efficient treatments with fewer side effects. In the traditional medicine, licorice has been suggested as a cancer treatment considering its high antioxidant properties and few side effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of licorice extract on gastric cancer cell lines. METHODS: In this experimental study, adenocarcinoma gastric cell lines were prepared from cell bank and were cultured. After passage, the cells were transferred into a 96-well plate. In each well, approximately 2,000 cells in RPMI-1640 culture medium with FBS (10%) were placed. The cells were repeatedly exposed to different concentrations of Glycyrrhetinic acid (0, 1, 10 and100.1 μM) and Glycyrrhizic acid (10, 1, 100 and 0.1 μM) for 24 and 48 hours. Finally, the obtained results of the experimental and control groups were compared with each other. FINDINGS: According to our results, the toxic effect of Glycyrrhetinic and Glycyrrhizic acids is dose and time dependent. In 24 hours, the mean optical density (MOD) in 100 μM concentration of Glycyrrhetinic acid was 0.41±0.02 and 0.79±0.04 in the experimental and control groups, respectively (p=0.0002). After 48 hours, MOD was 0.16±0.004 and 1.749±0.24 in the experimental and control groups, respectively (p=0.0003). Moreover, the MOD of 100 μM concentration of Glycyrrhizic acid was 0.78±0.53 and 2.09±0.49 in the experimental and control groups in 48 hours. There was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups (p=0.035). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that the licorice compounds have a toxic effect on carcinogenic cells. Therefore, it is recommended to perform more study on both Glycyrrhizic and Glycyrrhizic acids as effective compounds on gastric cancer treatmen

Ácido glicirrícico: extracción, cribado y evaluación de la propiedad anti-inflamatoria

The authors wish to thank Founder President Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Amity University for his kind support during the researchObjective: Glycyrrhizic acid is a widely used medicinal component as an anti-inflammatory agent, anti ulcer agent, anti-allergy agent and anti-psoriatic agent. The present investigation deals with the extraction of glycyrrhizic acid from licorice roots and evaluating its in-vitro anti inflammatory activity. Methods: Glycyrrhizic acid was extracted using the procedure of maceration. The extract was evaluated for its physicochemical property, biochemical tests and phytochemical properties. The Ii vitro anti- inflammatory activity was evaluated by albumin denaturation technique Results: The results showed that the ash value and the extractive values for the extract were found to be in the limit as given by Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Presence of flavonoids, saponins and triterpinoids were identified in the extract from phytochemical parameters. Thin layer chromatographic technique showed a retention value of 0.5 cm. The percentage inhibition showed that the extract is having some potential of healing inflammation. Conclusion: Glycyrrhizic acid was successfully extracted from licorice roots. The evaluation parameters showed the presence of less impurity in the extract, with the potential of having anti-inflammatory property.Objetivo: El ácido glicirrícico es un componente medicinal ampliamente utilizado como agente antiinflamatorio, agente antiulceroso, agente antialérgico y agente anti-psoriásico. La presente investigación trata de la extracción de ácido glicirrícico a partir de raíces de regaliz y la evaluación de su actividad antiinflamatoria in vitro. Métodos: el ácido glicirrícico fue extraído usando el procedimiento de la maceración. El extracto fue evaluado por su propiedad fisicoquímica, pruebas bioquímicas y propiedades fitoquímicas. La actividad antiinflamatoria in vitro fue evaluada por la técnica de desnaturalización de albúmina Resultados: los resultados demostraron que el valor de la ceniza y los valores extractivos para el extracto se encontraron en el valor límite según lo dado por la farmacopea de Ayurveda de la India. La presencia de flavonoides, de saponinas y de triterpenoides fue identificada en el extracto mediante parámetros fitoquímico. La técnica cromatográfica en capa delgada demostró un valor de retención de 0,5 centímetros. La inhibición porcentual mostró que el extracto tiene algún potencial de curación de la inflamación. Conclusión: el ácido glicirrícico fue extraído con éxito de las raíces de regaliz. Los parámetros de evaluación mostraron la presencia de menos impureza en el extracto, con el potencial de tener propiedades antiinflamatorias

Glycyrrhizic acid and its hydrolyzed metabolite 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid as specific ligands for targeting nanosystems in the treatment of liver cancer

Glycyrrhizic acid and its hydrolyzed metabolite 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, obtained from the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, have numerous pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcerative, antiallergic, immunomodulatory, antiviral, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant effects, and others. In addition to the pharmacological activities, in the 1980s, an interaction and uptake of these molecules by the liver was verified, which was later confirmed by other studies through the discovery of specific receptors in the hepatocytes. The presence of these specific receptors in the liver led to vectorization and delivery of drugs, by the introduction of glycyrrhizic acid or glycyrrhetinic acid on the surface of nanosystems, for the treatment of liver diseases. This review describes experimental evidence of vectorization by conjugating glycyrrhizic acid or glycyrrhetinic acid to nanosystems and delivery of antitumor drugs for the treatment of liver cancer and also describes the techniques used to perform this conjugation. We have shown that due to the existence of specific receptors for these molecules, in addition to the targeting of nanosystems to hepatocytes, nanosystems having glycyrrhizic acid or glycyrrhetinic acid on their surface had the same therapeutic effect in a significantly lower dose compared to the free drug and unconjugated nanosystems, with consequent reduction of side effects and toxicity

A review of the health effects and uses of drugs of plant licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) in Iran

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