Licochalcone A isolated from licorice suppresses lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory reactions in RAW264.7 cells and endotoxin shock in mice.
Licochalcone A (LicA), a major phenolic constituent of the licorice species Glycyrrhiza inflata, exhibits various biological properties, including chemopreventive, anti-bacterial, and anti-spasmodic activity. We report that LicA inhibits inflammatory reactions in macrophages and protects mice from endotoxin shock. Our in vitro experiments showed that LicA suppressed not only the generation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG)E(2), but also the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 cells. Similarly, LicA inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells, including IL-1 beta and IL-6. In an animal model, LicA protected BALB/c mice from LPS-induced endotoxin shock, possibly through inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines and NO. Collectively, LicA inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators and may be a potential target for treatment of various inflammatory diseases.
Kwon
Hyuck-Se
HS
Center for Efficacy Assessment and Development of Functional Foods and Drugs, Hallym University, Hallymdaehak-gil 39, Chuncheon, 200-702, Republic of Korea.
Park
Jun Hong
JH
Kim
Dae Hwan
DH
Kim
Yoon Hee
YH
Park
Jung Han Yoon
JH
Shin
Hyun-Kyung
HK
Kim
Jin-Kyung
JK
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002460:Cell Line; D047188:Chalcones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D047188:Chalcones; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C070840:licochalcone A