• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.13-21
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• 2020

Objective : The genus Glycyrrhiza has been used in food and traditional herbal medicine. Many experimental studies reported that Glycyrrhiza species possess several pharmacological properties. Glycyrrhiza new varieties WONGAM and SINWONGAM have been developed by Korea Rural Development Administration doing research for registration on Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. During the evaluations about pharmacological effect of Glycyrrhiza new varieties WONGAM and SINWONGAM, we focused the anti-allergic effect in this study. Methods : We investigated the anti-allergic effect of WONGAM and SINWONGAM compared with Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer and G. glabra L. using anti-dinitrophenyl-immunoglobulin E (IgE)/human serum albumin-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated HMC-1 cells and compound 48/80-induced anaphylaxis mice model. We analyzed the effect on the expression of various cytokines, and IgE from mast cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms of WONGAM and SINWONGAM in presented models. Results : WONGAM and SINWONGAM showed the inhibitory effect on the histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells or human mast cells without cytotoxicity. WONGAM and SINWONGAM blocked anaphylactic shock and decreased the IgE production. Furthermore, WONGAM and SINWONGAM inhibited the productions of TNF-α and IL-6 in compound 48/80-induced anaphylaxis mice model. Conclusion : These results indicated that WONGAM and SINWONGAM would have protect effect on allergic responses through the inhibition of allergic mediators and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This study may facilitate the development on Glycyrrhiza new varieties for allergy.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.88-88
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• 2019

Antioxidants are involved in the defense mechanism against the attack of free radicals. This study was carried out to determine the antioxidant activity of new variety of Glycyrrhiza cultivar radix, Wongam and Sinwongam. Dissolved freeze dried Wongam and Sinwongam extracts were filtered by $0.2{\mu}m$ filter and serially diluted at the concentrations of $10{\mu}g/mL$, $50{\mu}g/mL$, $100{\mu}g/mL$, $500{\mu}g/mL$, and $1000{\mu}g/mL$. The antioxidant potential was determined by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, ABTS (2,2-azino-bis (3-rthylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt) radical cation decolorization assay, nitrite radical scavenging assay, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. DPPH radical scavenging activities (i.e. the highest value $50.9{\pm}0.8%$ by Wongam and $82.6{\pm}1.1%$ by Sinwongam), ABTS radical scavenging activities (i.e. the highest value $88.1{\pm}1.8%$ by Wongam and $98.6{\pm}0.1%$ by Sinwongam), and nitrite radical scavenging activities (i.e. the highest value $87.3{\pm}1.6%$ by Wongam and $89.8{\pm}0.8%$ by Sinwongam) increased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, ferric reducing power activities also increased in a dose-dependent manner. The FRAP value of Wongam and Sinwongam extracts were $0.72{\pm}0.03$ and $0.99{\pm}0.06$ compared to ascorbic acid, as a positive control, was $1.32{\pm}0.02$. These results suggested that Wongam and Sinwongam have beneficial effects as a potent antioxidant.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.11-19
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• 2020

Objective : The genus Glycyrrhiza has been used in food and traditional herbal medicine. Glycyrrhiza new varieties Wongam and Sinwongam have been developed by Korea Rural Development Administration and investigated to register on Korean Pharmacopoeia of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The aim of this study is to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of Wongam and Sinwongam comparing with listed Glycyrrhiza species (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer and G. glabra Linne) for evaluations about pharmacological effect of Glycyrrhiza new varieties. Methods : We studied the immunomodulatory effect of Wongam and Sinwongam compared with G. uralensis and G. glabra using THP-1 cell in vitro model. The cells were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for differentiation and stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to induce immune activation. We analyzed and compared the effects Glycyrrhiza new varieties and listed Glycyrrhiza species using nitric oxide (NO) assay, western blot, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. 1) Results : Wongam and Sinwongam showed no cytotoxicity in THP-1 cells. Wongam and Sinwongam, and listed Glycyrrhiza species increased NO production, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression with or without LPS in differentiated THP-1 macrophages. Furthermore, Wongam and Sinwongam and listed Glycyrrhiza species upregulated the mRNA expressions of T helper type 1 (Th 1)-associated cytokines in LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages. Conclusion : These results indicated that Wongam and Sinwongam would have effect of enhancing immune response through the increase of NO and COX-2 expression, and activate Th1-associated cytokines. The findings of this study suggest the wide applicability of Glycyrrhiza new varieties.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.15-24
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• 2021

Objectives : The Glycyrrhiza new varieties, WONGAM and SINWONGAM, were developed through interspecific cross between Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza uralensis by the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration in Korea. This in vitro study was undertaken to compare the antioxidant and cytotoxic effects between Glycyrrhiza new varieties (WONGAM and SINWONGAM) and official compendia (Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza uralensis). Methods : Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhy drazyl), ABTS (2,2-azino-bis (3-rthylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) diammonium salt, Nitrite radical scavenging assay, and Reducing Power assay. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay and cell morphology was observed by an inverted microscope. Results : The DPPH, ABTS, Nitrite radical scavenging activities and reducing power of Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, WONGAM, and SINWONGAM were evaluated at different concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000 ㎍/㎖). Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, WONGAM, and SINWONGAM showed similar dose-dependent increase in antioxidant activities. The cytotoxic effects with increasing doses of Glycyrrhiza new varieties and official compendia did not differ in HCT116, HT29, A549, MDA-MB231, PC3, ACHN, and HeLa cells. However, significant difference in cytotoxicity were observed in AGS, MCF7 and Hep3B cells by Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, WONGAM, and SINWONGAM. Conclusions : These results showed that Glycyrrhiza new varieties and official compendia acts as a potent antioxidant. Also, the finding that equivalent cytotoxic potency was observed in a cell dependent manner. Our study suggests that Glycyrrhiza new varieties may offer a wide-variety of health benefits.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2019

Background: Glycyrrhiza radix (licorice root) have been used as an oriental medicine material for long time, and its protective effects on oxidative stress, inflammation and cognition deficit have been recently reported. However, the cultivation of Glycyrrhiza species as medicinal crops is associated with some problems such as low productivity and early leaf fall, etc. To resolve this problems, Glycyrrhiza cultivars have been developed by direct hybridization of each Glycyrrhiza species by Korean researchers. The present study was conducted to compare the Glycyrrhiza cultivar radix (Dagam, Sinwongam and Wongam) for their anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and cognition improvement effects and levels of liquiritin, isoliquiritigenin and licochalcone in order to select an excellent cultivar as a material resource. Methods and Results: For evaluating the inhibitory efficacies of the Glycyrrhiza cultivar extracts on oxidative stress and inflammation in BV2 cells, we measured their reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and nitric oxide (NO) release after treating them with lipopolysccharide. The scavenging activities on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and peroxynitrite ($NOO^-$) radicals were evaluated. Cell proliferation and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) inhibition were analyzed. The total phenol, liquiritin, isoliquiritigenin and licochalcone A content in the extracts of the three culivars were quantified. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient between the activities and contents of total phenol, liquiritin, isoliquiritigenin and licochalcone A were also calculated. The results indicated that Sinwongam exhibited potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and NMDAR inhibititory activities. Sinwongam also showed higher total phenol and licochalcone A contents than the other cultivars. Among the three cultivars, Dagam exhibited a positive effects on NO release inhibition, cell proliferation and contents of liquiritin and isoliquiritigenin. Conclusions: Sinwongam is expected to be the most useful resource as a functional material for anti-oxidation/anti-inflammation and cognition improvement among the three studied licorice cultivars.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.103-103
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• 2019

Glycyrrhizae radix, commonly known as licorice, is a perennial herb belonging to Leguminosae and also includes various components such as, glycyrrhizin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin etc. Licorice has been widely used in East Asia as a medicine having pharmacological effects like antioxidants, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and immune modulatory activities. Among various licorice, Glycyrrhiza (G.) uralensis G. glabra and G. inflata are used for pharmaceutical purposes in Korea. However, cultivation of licorice has some problems such as low quality, low productivity, and early leaf drop. Korea Rural Development Administration developed new cultivars Wongam and Sinwongam, which are improved in cultivation and quality. To register the newly developed cultivar (s) on Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea as a medicine, it is necessary to prove the similarity and difference through the comparative studies between already-registered species and new cultivars. Some fungi and bacteria usually in the human oral cavity and intestines exist as harmless state in human body. Also, the skin and genital infections by fungi can lead to toxic systemic infections and are accompanied by flushing, rashes, burning or painful sensation. The influences of licorice varieties on fungi and bacteria might be an evidence to prove the outstanding effect of newly developed licorice variety. In this study, the antifungal and antibacterial activity was investigated using newly developed licorice varieties Wongam, and Sinwongam against various fungi and bacteria. These results means newly developed licorice could be used as a replacement of already-registered species in terms of antifungal and antibacterial application.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.89-89
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• 2019

Several studies report the anticancer effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra (G. glabra), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis) and their compounds. However, the anticancer effect of Glycyrrhiza cultivar roots are limited. In this study, we compared the anticancer effect of Glycyrrhiza cultivar (Wongam and Shinwongam) extracts with G. glabra and G. uralensis extracts in breast cancer cell lines. Freeze dried Glycyrrhiza root extracts were dissolved in cell culture media at 2 mg/mL and filtered by $0.2{\mu}m$ filter. Glycyrrhiza root extracts were serially diluted at the concentrations of $10{\mu}g/mL$, $100{\mu}g/mL$, $200{\mu}g/mL$, $400{\mu}g/mL$, $800{\mu}g/mL$, $1000{\mu}g/mL$ and $2000{\mu}g/mL$. MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of Glycyrrhiza root extracts and the cell viability was measured using MTT assay. In MCF-7 cells, G. glabra showed no significant difference with Wongam and showed significant difference with Shinwongam at $1000{\mu}g/mL$ (G. glabra 101.2% and Shinwongam 82.68%) and $2000{\mu}g/mL$ (G. glabra 83.07% and Shinwongam 54.05%). G. uralensis showed significant difference with Wongam at $2000{\mu}g/mL$ (G. uralensis 66.48% and Wongam 95.02%) and showed no significant difference with Shinwongam. In MDA-MB-231 cells, G. glabra showed no significant difference with both Wongam and Shinwongam. G. uralensis showed significant difference with Wongam at $2000{\mu}g/mL$ (G. uralensis 72.59% and Wongam 93.47%) and showed no significant difference with Shinwongam. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that G, glabra and G. uralensis compared with Wongam, and Shinwongam at low concentrations ($10{\mu}g/mL{\sim}800{\mu}g/mL$) display similar cytotoxic potency.