• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.292-296
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• 1996

By human intestinal bacteria, glycyrrhizin (18${\beta}$-glycyrrhetic acid ${beta}$-D-glucuronyl.${\alpha}$-D-glucuronic acid, GL) and baicalin (baicalein ${\beta}$-D-glucuronic acid) were metabolized to glycyrrhetinic acid and baicalin, respectively. However, .${\alpha}$-glucuronidase of Bacteroides JY-6 isolated from human intestinal bacteria hydrolyzed GL or 18.${\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid ..${\alpha}$-D-glucuronic acid to 18${\beta}$-glycyrrhetic acid but did not baicalin. However, E. coli ${\beta}$-glucironidase from human intestinal bacteria hydrolyzed baicalin to baicalein, but did not GL.${\beta}$-Glucuronidase of mammalian tissues hydrolyzed both GL and baicalin.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.164-169
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• 2015

In the present study, we determined the effect of $18{\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid ($18{\beta}$-GA) in the mice model bearing xenografts of HT-29 human colon cancer cell line. Data from the cytotoxicity assay displayed that $18{\beta}$-GA induced cell death in HT-29. The cytotoxicity was enhanced as the $18{\beta}$-GA treatment was prolonged. In case of 72 hrs treatment, $LD_{50}$ of $18{\beta}$-GA was approximately $90{\mu}M$, and the efficacy at $100{\mu}M$ of $18{\beta}$-GA appeared to be equivalent to that of doxorubicin at $1{\mu}M$. Based on the in vitro data, we tested the anti-tumor effect of $18{\beta}$-GA in thymic mice (Balb/c strain). Xenograft tumors were generated by subcutaneous injection of HT-29 ($3{\times}10^6cells/mouse$) to mice and the mice were treated intraperitoneally with $18{\beta}$-GA ($50{\mu}g/time/mouse$) every other day for 4 times. The tumor volumes were measured for a period of 14 days. Data displayed that the $18{\beta}$-GA treatment reduced the tumor volumes (P < 0.05) as compared to control mice. However, this activity was demolished when athymic mice (Balb/c nu/nu) were used instead of thymic mice. This observation appeared that T lymphocyte played an important role in the anti-tumor activity. In conclusion, our results indicate that $18{\beta}$-GA has anti-tumor activity in HT-29 tumor-bearing mice, which may be associated with T cells.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects of 18α-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18α-GA), a hydrolyzed metabolite of glycyrrhizin, in AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Methods : We used human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, AGS cells. We examined cell death by MTT assay and caspase 3 and 9 assay with 18α-GA. To examine the inhibitory effects of 18α-GA, sub-G1 analysis was done the AGS cells after 24 hours with 18α-GA. Also, to investigate the inhibitory mechanisms of 18α-GA, mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were examined. Results : 1. 18α-GA inhibited the growth of AGS cells in a dose-dependent fashion. 2. Sub-G1 fractions were significantly and dose-dependently increased by 18α-GA. 3. 18α-GA increased the caspase 3 and 9 activities in AGS cells. 4. 18α-GA inhibited proliferation of AGS cells via the modulation of c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways, which results in the induction of apoptosis. 5. 18α-GA enhanced ROS accumulation in AGS cells. Conclusions : Our findings provide insight into unraveling the effects of 18α-GA in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and developing therapeutic agents against gastric cancer.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2006

The mutability and frequency of genetic reassortment characteristic of rotavirus and resultant antigenic changes make the rotavirus formidable challenges for control efforts such as the vaccine development. An alternative approach to overcome these difficulties in development of the rotavirus vaccine is to develop effective inhibitors of the virus infection. As an effort to achieve this, effects of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), which is an active component of glycyrrhizin, on MA-14 cell infection were examined by employing the human rotavirus isolated from Korea, K-21. The data obtained showed that MA-104 cell infection of the K-21 rotavirus was greatly influenced by the presence of both $18{\alpha}-Ga\;and\;18{\beta}-GA$. Both types of GA have inhibited more than 60% of the rotaviral infection at the concentration of 7.68mM. This inhibition effect became much more evident at the higher concentrations of GA. However, the type of GA did not make much differences on the inhibition effect of the drug. Although GA has to be used in high concentrations to exhibit anti-viral activity and to be virostatic, a long history of safe and high dose usage of licoriece in clinical settings in the Far East makes the GA as an attractive inhibitor of the rotaviral infection.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.583-588
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• 1998

These experiments were investigated effects of the cell death of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on transplanted-L1210 cells in BALB/c mice. The GA suppressed the proliferation of L121 0 cells in vivo and in vitro system. The administration of GA induced apoptosis of transplanted-L1210 cells via the reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential in mice. The GA enhanced the production of nitric oxidation in peritoneal macrophages obtained from L1210 cells-transplanted mice. The apoptosis of L1210 cells were induced by co-culture of the macrophages obtained from GA administered mice and L1210 cells in vitro, and was partly inhibited by the treatment of L-NMMA. These results suggest that GA induces the cytotoxicity and the apoptosis of transplanted-L1210 cells via the production of nitric oxide in peritoneal macrophages.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.172-173
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• 2000

The relationship between the metabolites of glycyrrhizin (18$\beta$-glycyrrhetinic acid-3-O--D-glu-curonopyranosyl-($1{\rightarrow}2$)-$\beta$-D-glucuronide, CL) and their biological activities was investigated. By human intestinal microflora, CL was metabolized to 18$\beta$-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) as a main product and to 18$\beta$-glycyrrhetinic acid-3-O-$\beta$-D-glucuronide (GAMG) as a minor product. The former reaction was catalyzed by Eubacterium L-8 and the latter was by Streptococcus LJ-22. Among GL and its metabolites, GA and GAMG had more potent in vitro anti-platelet aggregation activity than GL. GA also showed the most potent cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines and the potent inhibitory activity on rotavirus infection as well as growth of Helicobacter pylori. GAMG, the minor metabolite of GL, was the sweetest.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.476-481
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• 2007

A polymorphic fungus, Candida albicans, causes various forms of infections such as disseminated candidiasis and vaginitis. Recent reports indicate that the fungus is a main etiological agent for the arthritis. In search of new sources for treatment of the fungal arthritis, we examined $18{\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid ($18{\beta}$-GA) against C. albicans-caused septic arthritis. The compound is isolated from Glycyrrhizae Radix that is known to have various immunomodulating activities and is one of the most popular herbal medicines. For induction of animal model of a septic arthritis, mice were given an emulsion form of C. albicans cell wall mixed with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) via footpad-injection. To determine prophylactic and therapeutic effects, the component was given to the animals before or after the induction of the arthritis, respectively. Data showed that intraperitoneal administration of $18{\beta}$-GA resulted in reduction of the inflammation, indicating the component had both prophylactic and therapeutic activities. For investigation of mechanism of the $18{\beta}$-GA, inhibitory effects on NO (nitiric oxide) and on T-lymphocyte proliferation were determined. Results demonstrated that $18{\beta}$-GA suppressed NO production from LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-treated macrophages and also inhibited proliferation of Con A (concanavalin A)activated T-cells. Taken together, $18{\beta}$-GA, a pentacyclic triterpene, has anti-arthritic activity against C. albicans-caused septic arthritis, possibly by blocking NO production and T-cell suppression.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.494-499
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• 2008

The role of antibody in the fungal infections is controversial. However, our previous reports showed a certain epitope in Candida albicans cell wall (CACW) induces protective antibody. A major problem is that the epitope isolation requires tremendous time with high cost. This aspect led us to investigate a simple way inducing protective antibodies against C. albicans. In the present study, we determined if $18{\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid ($18{\beta}$-GA) from Glabrae Radix (a family of Leguminosae) has immunoadjuvant activity. Data displayed that the $18{\beta}$-GA suppressed proliferations of both T- and Blymphocytes at high concentrations, whereas below 20 ${\mu}M$ concentration the compound supported the proliferations. These observations indicate that $18{\beta}$-GA has immunoregulatory activity. Based on this observation, an immunoadjuvant effect was examined at the low concentration. Results from animal experiments showed that CACW combined with or without $18{\beta}$-GA produced the anti-C. albicans antiserum in mice. Nevertheless, the CACW combined with $18{\beta}$-GA formula only protected mice against disseminated candidiasis (P<0.05). These data implicate that $18{\beta}$-GA has immunoadjuvant activity, which may provoke the CACW antigen to induce protective antibody. Currently, we are investigating possible mechanism of how the $18{\beta}$-GA provokes such protective immunity against the disseminated disease.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1981

Glycyrrhizin (GA) content in licorice was determined by a couple of methods using HPLC, respectively. In Method(I), GA content itself was determined from the licorice aqueous extract, while in Method (II) glycyrrhetinic acid (GHeA ; the aglicone of GA) content corresponding to the quantity of GA was measured from the chloroform extract of the hydrolyzed product of licorice aqueous extract. A reverse phase column Hibar Lichrosorb RP-18 (E. Merck) was used as the stationary phase. As the mobile phase MeOH: $H_{2}O$(0.05M-$NaH_{2}PO_{4}$)=58 : 42 solution in Method (I), and MeOH: $H_{2}O $: AcOH=78; 19: 3 solution in Method (II) were suitable, respectively. The value obtained by Method (II) appeared slightly higher than that by Method (I). The effect of some other herbal drugs on the assay of GA quantity in mixed sample was also observed in both above two methods. By Method (I) Cassiae Cortex, Rehmaniae Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix, and Angelicae Radix gave the subtractive effect on the amount of GA compared with the value from licorice alone. In the case of Method (II) Cassiae Cortex and Rehmaniae Rhizoma appeared to have subtractive effect but Paeoniae Radix and Angelicae Radix scarcely showed any influence. Pachymae Fungus did not affect the GA content at all. It seems that glycyrrhizin in licorice interacts with certain components of other herbal drugs.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.208.2-208.2
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• 2002