title: Inhibition by licochalcone A, a novel flavonoid isolated from liquorice root, of IL-1beta-induced PGE2 production in human skin fibroblasts.
abstract: Licochalcone A, a novel flavonoid isolated from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata, has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in animal models. In this study, we examined the effect of licochalcone A on the production of chemical mediators such as prostaglandin (PG)E2 and cytokines by interleukin (IL)-1beta in human skin fibroblasts. Licochalcone A (IC50 15.0 nM) inhibited PGE2 production, but not IL-6 and IL-8 production, in response to IL-1beta. NS-398 (IC50 1.6 nM), a COX-2 selective inhibitor, also suppressed the PGE2 production. Furthermore, licochalcone A and NS-398 suppressed PGF(2alpha) production by IL-1beta. However, licochalcone A (1 microM) had no effect on increased levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA and protein in cells. Dexamethasone (100 nM) not only inhibited PGE2, PGF(2alpha), IL-6 and IL-8 production but also strongly suppressed the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein. Licochalcone A had no effect on COX-1-dependent PGE2 production, whereas indometacin (100 nM), a dual inhibitor of COX-1 and COX-2, was very effective. These results suggest that licochalcone A induces an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of COX-2-dependent PGE2 production. Furthermore, it appears that the inhibitory effect of licochalcone A on PGE2 production in response to IL-1beta is quite different from that of the steroid.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacological Research Department, Research Laboratory, Minophagen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, 2-2-3, Komatsubara, Zama-shi, Kanagawa 228-0002, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikue
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Furuhashi
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Toshitsugu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002599:Chalcone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D047188:Chalcones; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D047188:Chalcones; D017931:DNA Primers; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002599:Chalcone; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C070840:licochalcone A; D015232:Dinoprostone