title: In vitro and in vivo antiallergic effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra and its components.
abstract: Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Leguminosae) is frequently used in traditional medicine to treat inflammatory and allergic diseases. In this study, the main components (glycyrrhizin, 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid, isoliquiritin, and liquiritigenin) were isolated from licorice, and their anti-allergic effects, such as antiscratching behavior and IgE production-inhibitory activity, were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Liquiritigenin and 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid most potently inhibited the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells induced by IgE with the antigen (DNP-HSA) and rat peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80. Liquiritigenin and 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid potently inhibited the passive cutaneous anaphylactic reaction as well as the scratching behavior in mice induced by compound 48/80. These components inhibited the production of IgE in ovalbumin-induced asthma mice but liquiritigenin had little effect. This suggests that the antiallergic effects of licorice are mainly due to glycyrrhizin, 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid, and liquiritigenin, which can relieve IgE-induced allergic diseases such as dermatitis and asthma.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-ku, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Wook
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Eun-Ah
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Bomi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jeong Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yeong-Shik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010047:Ovalbumin; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine; D010047:Ovalbumin