• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.165-172
• /
• 2007

Glycyrrhizae Radix, the dried roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra or Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer(Legumino-sae), has been used as a medicine for treatment of imflammation, arthritis, respiratory ailment, skin diseases and liver problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of 70% ethanol extract, 18-${\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid, glycyrol and carbenoxolone disodium from Glycyrrhizae Radix on gastritis and gastric cancer. Using these materials, we tested antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori, antigastritic activity for HCI-ethanol-induced gastric lesion and the pylorus ligated gastric secretion with rats, and cell viability in gastric cancer cell. 18-${\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid and carbenoxolone disodium decreased the volume of gastric secretion and acid output in pylorus ligated rats. Also, carbenoxolone disodium had a strong effect of antibacterial activity on H. pylori. In addition 18-${\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid and glycyrol reduced cell viability in human gastric cancer cells(AGS and SNU638 cell) in dose-dependent manner. The reduction of total acid output and gastric secretion as well as the anti-bacterial activity against H. pylori might account for the antigastritic effects of carbenoxolone disodium.