title: Relaxative effect of core licorice aqueous extract on mouse isolated uterine horns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most frequent gynecological disorders in young women. Chinese herbal medicine has the advantage in terms of multi-targeting efficacy, lower toxicity, as well as lower cost. Core licorice is the hard and atropurpureus heart part in root and rootstock of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch (Leguminosae), having a therapeutic effect on dysmenorrhea.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This experiment indicated the spasmolytic effect of core licorice aqueous extract (CLE) on spontaneous rhythmic contractions and spasmogen-provoked contractions of stilbestrol primed, estrogen-dominated, non-pregnant mouse isolated uterine horns and its spasmolytic mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the spasmolytic effect of CLE (0.025-0.1 mg/mL) on spontaneous contractions and potassium chloride (KCl, 40 mM), acetylcholine (ACh, 5 μg/mL), carbachol (CCh, 5 μg/mL), oxytocin (OT, 2 U/L) or bradykinin (5 ng/mL)-provoked contractions of mouse isolated uterine horns. Contractions were recorded by tension force transducers using Biolap 420F software on a PC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our present study showed that graded, escalated concentrations of CLE (0.025-0.1 mg/mL) significantly inhibited the amplitude of spontaneous phasic contractions (15.03-55.10%), as well as the contractions produced by KCl (40 mM; 20.16-53.99%), ACh (5 μg/mL; 14.65-48.32%), CCh (5 μg/mL; 38.40-76.70%), OT (2 U/L; 21.53-58.49%) or bradykinin (5 ng/mL; 58.01-79.44%) of the estrogen-dominated isolated mice uterine horn preparations in a concentration-related manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The spasmolytic effect of CLE observed in the present study lends pharmacological support to the traditional use of core licorice in the management, control and treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.
authors.forename: Jianwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Yinju
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Qipeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chengjun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yuanxu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yanrong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hanran
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Xiuying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Wannian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jianqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D029882:Glycyrrhiza uralensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts