Suppressive effects of glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives on tachykinin receptor activation and hyperalgesia.

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), an aglycone of glycyrrhizin, isolated from the licorice root (Glycyrrhizia), and its semi-synthetic derivatives have a wide range of pharmacological effects. To investigate whether GA derivatives may be used as a new class of analgesics, we examined the effects of these compounds on human tachykinin receptors expressed in CHO-K1 cells. Among the GA derivatives examined, the disodium salt of olean-11,13(18)-dien-3ß,30-O-dihemiphthalate inhibited the mobilization of [Ca(2+)](i) induced by substance P, neurokinin A, and neurokinin B in CHO-K1 cells expressing the human NK(1), NK(2), and NK(3) tachykinin receptors, respectively. In an inflammatory pain model, Compound 5 suppressed the capsaicin-induced flinching behavior in a dose-dependent manner. Compound 5 was also effective in suppressing pain-related behaviors in the late phase of the formalin test and reducing thermal hyperalgesia in the neuropathic pain state caused by sciatic nerve injury. Collectively, Compound 5 may be an analgesic candidate via tachykinin receptor antagonism.

Glycyrrhetinic acid prevents cutaneous scratching behavior in mice elicited by substance P or PAR-2 agonist.

Although glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) has been used for the prevention of itch in chronic dermatitis, the mechanism underlying the antipruritic effects of GA is still unclear. Recently, several mediators other than histamine, such as substance P and tryptase, were found to participate in chronic itch. Here, we investigated the effect of GA on pruritus induced by various pruritic agents including histamine in mice. We also determined the level of leukotriene (LT)B(4) in mouse skin injected with substance P in an effort to uncover part of the antipruritic mechanism of GA. Scratching events were counted for 10 min after intradermal injection of histamine, substance P (100 nmol per site each), protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) agonistic peptide (50 nmol per site), or LTB(4) (0.03 nmol per site) with or without GA (4 nmol per site) into male ICR mice. Levels of LTB(4) in the skin after injection of substance P were determined by ELISA. GA did not suppress scratching behavior induced by histamine and LTB(4), but markedly and dose-dependently suppressed that induced by substance P and PAR-2 agonistic peptide. LTB(4) levels in skin elevated by substance P were lowered by GA. These data support the efficacy of GA in counteracting itch in chronic dermatitis because GA reduced scratching behavior induced by substance P and PAR-2 agonistic peptide. GA may exert antipruritic effects via inhibition of LTB(4) production in skin.

Hepatic protection by glycyrrhizin and inhibition of iNOS expression in concanavalin A-induced liver injury in mice.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: In this study, the possible protective effect of glycyrrhizin (GL), an active compound derived from licorice root, was examined on T cell-mediated liver injury in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were subjected to liver injury by intravenous injection of concanavalin A (Con A). They had been treated with GL (i.p.) 30 min before the injection. Liver injury was estimated by measuring serum levels of alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), and by examining liver sections with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein in the liver was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. RESULTS: Serum transaminases and hepatic iNOS levels increased with time after Con A treatment. Expression of iNOS mRNA in the liver was elevated for up to 8 h, and at 8 h, GL (ED(50): 10.5 mg/kg) suppressed the increases in AST and ALT in response to Con A. An increase in iNOS mRNA expression and protein was inhibited by treatment with GL. Furthermore, GL inhibited cell infiltration and the degeneration of hepatocytes in the liver of Con A-treated mice. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that the prevention by GL of Con A-induced hepatitis is due partly to the modulation of hepatic iNOS induction and of degeneration of hepatocytes.