title: Licochalcone E reduces chronic allergic contact dermatitis and inhibits IL-12p40 production through down-regulation of NF-kappa B.
abstract: Licochalcone, a constituent of licorice, has antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Recently, licochalcone E was isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata and its biological functions are not fully examined. In this study, we investigated its ability to modulate production of IL-12p40, a common subunit of IL-12 and IL-23. Licochalcone E dose-dependently inhibited IL-12p40 production from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The repressive effect was mapped to a region in the IL-12 gene promoter containing a binding site for NF-kappaB. Furthermore, licochalcone E decreased binding to the NF-kappaB site in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Using a chronic allergic contact dermatitis model induced by repeated application of oxazolone, we showed that licochalcone E inhibited the increased IL-12p40 expression and ear thickness induced by oxazolone. Taken together, licochalcone E inhibits IL-12p40 production and has therapeutic potential to reduce skin inflammation.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Drug Development, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Goo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Hyung-Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joo Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Hyun Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Cheng-Weon
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Bok Yun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047188:Chalcones / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010081:Oxazolone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D047188:Chalcones; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D016328:NF-kappa B; C520147:licochalcone E; D010081:Oxazolone