• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.840-845
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• 2013

This study investigated the effects (i.e., the acetylcholinesterase activity, lipid peroxidation, and neuronal survival) of 20 kinds of medicinal water extracts. The water extracts of three medicinal plants - Cornus officinalis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Angelica gigas - were found to be the most effective on acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. In the lipid peroxidation-generating system induced by $H_2O_2/FeSO_4$ in rat brain homogenates, Perilla frutescens, Polygonum multiflorum, Cinnamomun cassia, and G. glabra exhibited protective activity against lipid peroxidation. The neuronal cell death induced by L-glutamate in PC12 was suppressed by the water extracts of G. glabra, Cinnamomun cassia, Platycodon grandiflorum, and Mentha arvensis at the concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$. Taken together, these results showed that the water extract of G. glabra has the potential anti-dementia activity, which suggests that it might provide an effective strategy for improving dementia.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4809-4813
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• 2014

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been reported to interfere with estrogen signaling. Exposure to these chemicals decreases the immune response and causes a wide range of diseases in animals and humans. Recently, many studies showed that licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract (LRE) commonly called "gamcho" in Korea exhibits antioxidative, chemoprotective, and detoxifying properties. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of LRE and to determine if and how LRE can alleviate the toxicity of EDCs. LRE was prepared by vacuum evaporation and freeze-drying after homogenization of licorice root powder that was soaked in 80% ethanol for 72 h. We used 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as a representative EDC, which is known to induce tumors or cancers; MCF-7 breast cancer cells, used as a tumor model, were treated with TCDD and various concentrations of LRE (0, 50, 100, 200, $400{\mu}g/mL$) for 24, 48, and 72 h. As a result, TCDD stimulated MCF-7 cell proliferation, but LRE significantly inhibited TCDD-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The expression of TCDD toxicity-related genes, i.e., aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), AhR nuclear translocator, and cytochrome P450 1A1, was also down-regulated by LRE in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of cell cycle distribution after treatment of MCF-7 cells with TCDD showed that LRE inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells via G2/M phase arrest. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis also revealed that LRE dose-dependently increased the expression of the tumor suppressor genes p53 and p27 and down-regulated the expression of cell cycle-related genes. These data suggest that LRE can mitigate the tumorigenic effects of TCDD in breast cancer cells by suppression of AhR expression and cell cycle arrest. Thus, LRE can be used as a potential toxicity-alleviating agent against EDC-mediated diseases.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.325-332
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• 2005

The developmental toxicity of water extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) was evaluated in rats. Licorice extract (500, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg) was dissolved in drinking water and orally administered to male rats from 9 weeks before mating to the day of copulation, and to females from 2 weeks before mating to gestational day 19. On gestational day 20, the animals were sacrificed for Cesarian section, and maternal and fetal abnormalities were examined. Licorice extract neither induce clinical signs, nor affect the body weight gain, feed and water intake, estrous cycle, copulation and fertility rates, blood $17\beta-estradiol$ level and organ weights of dams. Also, the implantation and development including body weights, absorption and death of embryos and fetuses were not influenced by in utero exposure to licorice. In addition, there were no increases in external, visceral and skeletal abnormalities of fetuses. Taken together, it is suggested that no observed adverse effect level of licorice extract is higher than 2,000 mg/kg, and that long-term in utero exposure to licorice might not cause developmental toxicities of embryos and fetuses.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5117-5121
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• 2014

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been reported to interfere with estrogen signaling. Exposure to these chemicals decreases the immune response and causes a wide range of diseases in animals and humans. Recently, many studies showed that licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract (LRE) commonly called "gamcho" in Korea exhibits antioxidative, chemoprotective, and detoxifying properties. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of LRE and to determine if and how LRE can alleviate the toxicity of EDCs. LRE was prepared by vacuum evaporation and freeze-drying after homogenization of licorice root powder that was soaked in 80% ethanol for 72 h. We used 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as an EDC, which is known to induce tumors or cancers; MCF-7 breast cancer cells were used as a tumorigenic model. These were treated with TCDD and various concentrations of LRE (0, 50, 100, 200, $400{\mu}g/mL$) for 24, 48, and 72 h. As a result, TCDD stimulated MCF-7 cell proliferation, but LRE significantly inhibited TCDD-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Expression of TCDD toxicity-related genes, i.e., aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), AhR nuclear translocator, and cytochrome P450 1A1, were subsequently down-regulated by LRE in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of cell cycle distribution after treatment of MCF-7 cells with TCDD and various concentrations of LRE showed that LRE inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells via G2/M phase arrest. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses also revealed that LRE dose-dependently increased the expression of the tumor suppressor genes p53 and p27 and down-regulated the expression of cell cycle-related genes. These data suggest that LRE can mitigate the tumorigenic effects of TCDD in breast cancer cells by suppression of AhR expression and cell cycle arrest. Thus, LRE can be used as a potential toxicity-alleviating agent against EDC-mediated disease.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2018

The primary cilium protrudes from the cell body like a bio-antenna that has many receptors, channels and signaling molecules to sense and response to external stimuli. The external environment such as ultraviolet irradiation, temperature, humidity, gravity and shear stress always influences skin. Skin responds to external stimuli and differentiates by making melanin, collagen and horny layer. Ciliogenesis participates in developmental processes of skin, such as keratinocyte differentiation and hair formation. And it was reported that skin pigmentation was inhibited when ciliogenesis was induced by sonic hedgehog-smoothened-GLI2 signaling. When skin is exposed to ultraviolet irradiation, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormones (${\alpha}$-MSH) increase melanin synthesis through activation of the cAMP pathway in melanocytes. We observed that ${\alpha}$-MSH and cAMP production inducers inhibited ciliogenesis of melanocytes. Therefore, we thought that regulation of ciliogenesis is potential candidate target for the development of agents to treat undesirable hyperpigmentation of skin. As a result, we found out that an ethanol extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (EGG) root and 3,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamate thymol ester (TCTE, Melasolv) significantly inhibit melanin synthesis of normal human melanocyte by inducing primary cilium formation. This study proposed new theory to regulate skin pigmentation and cosmetic components for skin whitening.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.294-301
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the protective effects and detoxification of oriental herb extracts mixture (Saururus chinensis, Taraxacum platycarpum, Ulmus macrocarpa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Rhynchosia nulubilis) on TCDD-induced oxidative stress. Thirty five male rats were divided into 5 groups: normal control group received saline; vehicle control group received DMSO and acetone; only TCDD-treated group received multiple intraperitoneal injection of TCDD ($100{\mu}g/kg$) and saline; post-treated group of OHEM (400 mg/kg/day) received oral administration for 5 weeks after TCDD treatment; and pre-treated group of OHEM (400 mg/kg/day) received oral administration for 6 weeks from 1 week before TCDD treatment. The elevated serum activities of alanine transaminase (AST), aspartate transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and atherorganic index due to TCDD were significantly decreased by the treatment of OHEM (p<0.05); the pre-treatment of OHEM was especially effective. Hydropic lesions and cytoplasmic vacuolizations in the liver of TCDD-treated rats were inhibited by the treatment of OHEM. Also, OHEM treatment reduced edemas in small intestine villus of TCDD-treated rats. These results suggest that OHEM from various oriental herb extracts might be a useful protective and detoxification agent against TCDD.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 2007

In this study, the twenty-four ethyl acetate extracts of twenty-two medicinal plants, traditionally used in Vietnam as anti-diabetes agents, were investigated for ${\alpha}$-amylase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) enzymes inhibitory activity in vitro. The results indicated that, twelve materials (50.0%) showed moderate to strong inhibitory activity in ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activity with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 2.5 to $48.8{\mu}g/mL$; meanwhile, ten extracts (41.6%) could demonstrate PTP1B activity with $IC_{50}$ values less than $30.5{\mu}g/mL$. Some plants presented interesting activities against both of ${\alpha}$-amylase and PTP1B enzymes such as Catharanthus roseus, Carthamus tinctorius, Momordica charantia, Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Smilax glabra, Psidium guajava (leave), and Rehmannia glutinosa. The study may provide a proof, at least in a part, for the ethno-medical use in diabetes disease of these plants.

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

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.361-366
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• 2014

In this study, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts, with their countries of origin as Korea (Jecheon), Uzbekistan and China, were prepared under various extraction conditions. There were 8 extraction conditions which the licorice were subjected to, and all conditions had different extraction solvents, temperatures and times. Antimicrobial activity on skin flora was evaluated comparatively by a disc diffusion assay, broth macrodilution assay, and kill time curve assay. Based on the antimicrobial activity of their extract confirmed by disc diffusion assay, we established optimal extraction conditions. The Korean licorice extract (85% ethanol, $40^{\circ}C$, 12 h) showed the best activity amongst the samples examined. In particular, its antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes was the highest. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of the licorice extracts revealed that the Korean licorice ($156{\mu}g/ml$ and $1,250{\mu}g/ml$) had better antimicrobial activity than that of the Uzbekistani licorice ($625{\mu}g/ml$ and $2,500{\mu}g/ml$) and the Chinese licorice ($625{\mu}g/ml$ and $5,000{\mu}g/ml$). Taken together, it was shown that Korean licorice extracted in group F (85% ethanol, $40^{\circ}C$, 12 h) had the highest antimicrobial activity amongst the licorices from the other countries of origin. These results also suggest that the optimal extraction conditions are 85% ethanol, $40^{\circ}C$, 12 h, and that licorice has a potential application as a natural preservative in cosmetics products, thereby replacing synthetic preservatives.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.394-399
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• 2013

Astragalus membranaceus Bunge is used in herbal medicine in Eastern Asian countries including Korea. In this study, we assessed the effects of A. membranaceus extract (AM) on the aquaporin-3 (AQP3) protein expression in HaCaT cells. AM did not affect viability of HaCaT cells. AQP3 expression and cell migration seem to be maximal at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitor, PD153035, blocked AM-induced AQP3 expression and cell migration. In addition, an 80% ethanol extracts of herbal prescription, SinhyoTakleesan (ST), which is composed of A. membranaceus, Angelicae gigantis, Glycyrrhiza glabra Linne, and Lonicera japonica Flos also induced AQP3 expression at $20{\mu}g/mL$ in HaCaT cells. Collectively, these results suggest that AM induce AQP3 expression via EGFR pathway.