The anti-inflammatory activity of licorice, a widely used Chinese herb

Effect of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Extract as an Immunostimulant on Serum and Skin Mucus Immune Parameters, Transcriptomic Responses of Immune-Related Gene, and Disease Resistance Against Yersinia ruckeri in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This study was designed to appraise the effect of licorice herbal supplement on the immune status of rainbow trout fingerlings. Accordingly, five diets were formulated with different levels of licorice extract (LE) including 0 (control), 0.5 g kg−1 (LE0.5), 1 g kg−1 (LE1), 2 g kg−1 (LE2), and 3 g kg−1 (LE3). The fingerlings (10.0 ± 0.1 g initial mean weight) received the diets in triplicates (30 fish in each replicate) for 56 days. The results showed that the white blood cells and their differential number (lymphocytes and monocytes) were remarkably increased by LE2 supplementation (P < 0.05). The oral administration of LE2 significantly increased the levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig), lysozyme activity, and complement components (C3 and C4) compared with others. Meanwhile, the serum bactericidal activity against Yersinia ruckeri in LE2 and LE3 treatments was significantly higher than others except for LE1 (P < 0.05). In addition, serum alternative complement activity significantly improved in all treated groups except LE0.5 compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In terms of skin mucosal immunity, the fish fed with LE2 and LE3 diets exhibited notably higher lysozyme activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, and Ig value than other groups (P < 0.05). The highest skin mucus bactericidal activity against Y. ruckeri was obtained in LE2 treatment (P < 0.05). In addition, dietary LE2 significantly increased the relative expression of immune-associated genes including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-8, and IgM and the former treatments showed higher values than the control group. The cumulative mortality of fish against Y. ruckeri infection was notably reduced from 53.6% in the control group to 29.0% in LE3 treatment. Overall, the dietary administration of LE at 2 g kg−1 had the best effects on immunocompetence in rainbow trout.

Revisiting liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) as anti-inflammatory, antivirals and immunomodulators: Potential pharmacological applications with mechanistic insight

BACKGROUND

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (G. glabra) commonly known as liquorice is one of the highly exploited and utilized medicinal plant of the world. Since ancient times liquorice is considered as an auspicious and valuable traditional medicine across the world for treatment of various ailments.

METHOD

Several electronic online scientific databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Scifinder, Google Scholar, online books and reports were assessed for collecting information. All the collected information was classified into different sections to meet the objective of the paper.

RESULTS

The electronic database search yielded 3908 articles from different countries. Out of them one ninety-eight articles published between 1956 and 2021 were included, corresponding to all detailed review on G. glabra and research on anti-inflammatories, antivirals and immunomodulatory through pre-clinical and clinical models. From all selective area of studies on G. glabra and its bioactive components it was established (including molecular mechanisms) as a suitable remedy as per the current requirement of pandemic situation arise through respiratory tract infection.

CONCLUSION

Different relevant studies have been thoroughly reviewed to gain an insight on utility of liquorice and its bioactive constituents for anti-inflammatories, antivirals and immunomodulatory effects with special emphasized for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection with possible mechanism of action at molecular level. Proposed directions for future research are also outlined to encourage researchers to find out various mechanistic targets and useful value added products of liquorice in future investigations.

Ocular Effects of Glycyrrhizin at Acidic and Neutral pH

Purpose

To test the effects of acidic vs. neutral pH glycyrrhizin (GLY) on the unwounded and wounded normal mouse cornea and after infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates KEI 1025 and multidrug-resistant MDR9.

Methods

Acidic or neutral GLY vs. phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was topically applied to normal or wounded corneas of C57BL/6 mice. In unwounded corneas, goblet cells and corneal nerves were stained and quantitated. After wounding, corneas were fluorescein stained and photographed using a slit lamp. Mice also were infected with KEI 1025 or MDR9 and the protective effects of GLY pH evaluated comparatively.

Results

In the unwounded cornea, application of acidic or neutral GLY vs. PBS reduced the number of bulbar conjunctival goblet cells but did not alter corneal nerve density. Similar application of GLY to scarified corneas delayed wound closure. After KEI 1025 infection, none of the GLY vs. PBS-treated corneas perforated; GLY treatment also decreased plate count (neutral pH more effective) and reduced MPO and several cytokines. Similarly, for MDR9, GLY at either pH was protective and also enhanced the effects of moxifloxacin to which MDR9 is resistant.

Conclusion

Acidic or neutral pH GLY decreased goblet cell number but had no effect on nerve density. After corneal wounding, GLY at either pH (1) delayed wound closure and, (2) after infection, decreased keratitis when used alone or in combination with moxifloxacin. Neutral pH did not alter the therapeutic effect of GLY and would be preferred if used clinically.

Pharmacological Effects and Underlying Mechanisms of Licorice-Derived Flavonoids

Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is the most frequently prescribed natural medicine in China and has been used for more than 2,000 years. The flavonoids of licorice have garnered considerable attention in recent decades due to their structural diversity and myriad pharmacological effects, especially as novel therapeutic agents against inflammation and cancer. Although many articles have been published to summarize different pharmacological activities of licorice in recent years, the systematic summary for flavonoid components is not comprehensive. Therefore, in this review, we summarized the pharmacological and mechanistic data from recent researches on licorice flavonoids and their bioactive components.

Potential mechanism of action of Jing Fang Bai Du San in the treatment of COVID-19 using docking and network pharmacology

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), severely infects people and has rapidly spread worldwide. JingFangBaiDu San (JFBDS) has been used to treat prevalent epidemic pathogens, common cold, headache, cough due to lung-cold, and other symptoms; however, its treatment for COVID-19 is unknown. Molecular docking and network pharmacology were applied to obtain ingredient-protein structures and the herb-ingredient-disease target network model, respectively, to explore the potential mechanism of JFBDS in COVID-19 treatment. Network pharmacology analysis showed that acacetin, wogonin, and isorhamnetin were the main active ingredients of JFBDS, and EGFR, PIK3CA, LCK, MAPK1, MAPK3, MAPK8, STAT3, TNF, IL2, and RELA were speculated to be crucial therapeutic targets. Moreover, the Toll-like receptors, HIF-1, PIK3K/AKT, MAPK, NF-κB and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways were important for JFBDS in COVID-19 treatment. Molecular docking analysis indicated that ingredients of JFBDS could bind to angiotensin converting enzyme II, spike protein, and chymotrypsin like protease (3CLpro), which inhibits virus entry and replication in host cells. This study provides a new perspective for understanding potential therapeutic effects and mechanisms of JFBDS in COVID-19 and may facilitate its clinical application.

NLRP3 Inflammasome Pharmacological Inhibitors in Glycyrrhiza for NLRP3-Driven Diseases Treatment: Extinguishing the Fire of Inflammation

Inflammation is the tissues’ defense response after the body is stimulated by microbial infection or damage signals, and it is initiated when pattern recognition receptors recognize pathogen-related molecular patterns and danger-related molecular patterns. The hyperactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome, the main driving force of immune outbreaks, is involved in a wide range of inflammatory diseases. Meanwhile, growing evidence has indicated that the development of NLRP3-targeted therapies offers great potential and promise for the treatment of related diseases. The search for and development of efficacious anti-inflammatory prodrugs from natural sources of plants and traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have received extensive attention. Glycyrrhiza, an important minister in the kingdom of TCMs, has high activity and a wide range of therapeutic effects. Studies have shown that a variety of active components found in Glycyrrhiza, such as licochalcone A, echinatin, isoliquiritigenin, and glycyrrhizin, produce a wide range of anti-inflammatory effects by discouraging NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Here, we summarize the role and mechanism of the active ingredients in Glycyrrhiza that target the NLRP3 inflammasome and treat related inflammatory diseases. We describe a favorable approach for the development of natural, safe, and efficient drugs that exploit these naturally occurring active ingredients to treat NLRP3-driven diseases.

Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Comprehensive Review on Its Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, Clinical Evidence and Toxicology

There are more than 30 species of Glycyrrhiza genus extensively spread worldwide. It was the most prescribed herb in Ancient Egyptian, Roman, Greek, East China, and the West from the Former Han era. There are various beneficial effects of licorice root extracts, such as treating throat infections, tuberculosis, respiratory, liver diseases, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunodeficiency. On the other hand, traditional medicines are getting the attraction to treat many diseases. Therefore, it is vital to screen the medicinal plants to find the potential of new compounds to treat chronic diseases such as respiratory, cardiovascular, anticancer, hepatoprotective, etc. This work comprehensively reviews ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, clinical evidence, and the toxicology of licorice, which will serve as a resource for future clinical and fundamental studies. An attempt has been made to establish the pharmacological effect of licorice in different diseases. In addition, the focus of this review article is on the molecular mechanism of licorice extracts and their four flavonoids (isoliquiritigenin, liquiritigenin, lichalocone, and glabridin) pharmacologic activities. Licorice could be a natural alternative for current therapy to exterminate new emerging disorders with mild side effects. This review will provide systematic insights into this ancient drug for further development and clinical use.

Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Effects, and Molecular Mechanisms of Licorice in Potential Therapy of COVID-19

The current Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global challenge, and although vaccines have been developed, it is expected that mild to moderate patients will control their symptoms, especially in developing countries. Licorice, not only a food additive, but also a common traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which has several pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammation, detoxification, antibacterial, antitussive, and immunomodulatory effects, especially in respiratory diseases. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizin diamine and glycyrrhizin extract have been widely studied and used in COVID-19 clinical trials. Therefore, it is a very interesting topic to explore the material basis, pharmacological characteristics and molecular mechanism of licorice in adjuvant treatment of COVID-19. In this paper, the material basis of licorice for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 is deeply analyzed, and there are significant differences among different components in different pharmacological mechanisms. Glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid inhibit the synthesis of inflammatory factors and inflammatory mediators by blocking the binding of ACE 2 to virus spike protein, and exert antiviral and antibacterial effects. Immune cells are stimulated by multiple targets and pathways to interfere with the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Liquiritin can prevent and cure COVID-19 by simulating type I interferon. It is suggested that licorice can exert its therapeutic advantage through multi-components and multi-targets. To sum up, licorice has the potential to adjuvant prevent and treat COVID-19. It not only plays a significant role in anti-inflammation and anti-ACE-2, but also significantly improves the clinical symptoms of fever, dry cough and shortness of breath, suggesting that licorice is expected to be a candidate drug for adjuvant treatment of patients with early / mild COVID-19.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Extracts-Suitable Pharmacological Interventions for COVID-19? A Review

Even though vaccination has started against COVID-19, people should continue maintaining personal and social caution as it takes months or years to get everyone vaccinated, and we are not sure how long the vaccine remains efficacious. In order to contribute to the mitigation of COVID-19 symptoms, the pharmaceutical industry aims to develop antiviral drugs to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 replication and produce anti-inflammatory medications that will inhibit the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is the primary cause of mortality among the COVID-19 patients. In reference to these tasks, this article considers the properties of a medicinal plant named licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), whose phytochemicals have shown both antiviral and anti-inflammatory tendencies through previous studies. All the literature was selected through extensive search in various databases such as google scholar, Scopus, the Web of Science, and PubMed. In addition to the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, one of the licorice components has an autophagy-enhancing mechanism that studies have suggested to be necessary for COVID-19 treatment. Based on reviewing relevant professional and historical literature regarding the medicinal properties of licorice, it is suggested that it may be worthwhile to conduct in vitro and in vivo studies, including clinical trials with glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetinic acids together with other flavonoids found in licorice, as there is the potentiality to provide natural interventions against COVID-19 symptoms.

Natural deep eutectic solvents as tailored and sustainable media for the extraction of five compounds from compound liquorice tablets and their comparison with conventional organic solvents

An efficient and environmentally friendly ultrasound-assisted (UAE) natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) extraction method was applied for the extraction of five bioactive compounds (liquiritin, isoliquiritin, liquiritigenin, glycyrrhizic acid and isoliquiritigenin) from compound liquorice tablets (CPLTs), and the antioxidant activities of these compounds were evaluated. In this study, eighteen different NADES systems based on either two or three components were tested and a 1,4-butanediol–levulinic acid system (1 : 3 molar ratio) was selected as a topgallant solvent for maximizing analyte extraction yields. Various extraction parameters, such as water content, liquid/solid ratio, extraction time and temperature, were systematically optimized by single-factor and response surface methodology (RSM) experiments. The results indicated that the optimum extraction conditions for the analytes featured a water content of 17%, a liquid/solid ratio of 42 mL g⁻¹ and an extraction time of 30 min. The extracted amounts of liquiritin, isoliquiritin, liquiritigenin, glycyrrhizic acid and isoliquiritigenin reached 5.60, 3.17, 1.27, 74.62 and 1.34 mg g⁻¹, respectively, under optimized conditions, which were much higher than those extracted using conventional organic solvents. In addition, antioxidant tests revealed that the NADES extracts showed higher DPPH and hydroxyl radical-scavenging capacity than the conventional solvent extracts used for comparison. This study provides a suitable approach for efficiently extracting the bioactive compounds of CPLTs. Meanwhile, NADESs can be extended to other natural products as green extraction media.

A 1,4-butanediol–levulinic acid system was selected as a topgallant solvent and extraction parameters were optimized. NADES extracts exhibited higher extraction efficiency and in vitro antioxidant activities than conventional solvent extracts.

Ethnopharmacological studies of medicinal plants in central Zagros, Lorestan Province, Iran

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lorestan Province (Iran) has a great diversity of habitats and plant diversity and the people living in this province have a good knowledge of herbal therapies.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, the authors aimed to identify and report the medicinal plants used in the folk medicine of Lorestan.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The indigenous medicinal information was collected with a semi-structured open-ended questionnaire, interviews, and personal observations. The relative importance of the species were estimated through frequency of citations (FC).

RESULTS

and discussion: A total of 555 plants belonging to 91 families were identified. The plants belong to Asteraceae with 62 species followed by Lamiaceae (56), Apiaceae (44), Fabaceae (41), and Brassicaceae (31). The plants were mostly used as a decoction or eaten raw (32%). Leaves (22%) were the most utilized plant parts followed by shoots (16%), and seeds (13%). Thymus daenensis, Thymus eriocalyx, Mentha longifolia, Mentha spicata, Mentha piperitha, Alium sativum, Quercus infectoria, Quercus persica, Ziziphora clinopodioides, and Malus domestica had the highest FC values. Most of the plants were used for gastrointestinal, respiratory, and skin problems.

CONCLUSION

Lorestan is a region rich in medicinal plants. The local knowledge of herbal therapies can be used as complementary medicine, particularly by people in remote areas and as a guide for the future pharmacological and phytochemical studies. While the known medicinal plants can be harvested or cultivated for medical and pharmaceutical purposes, the less known plants with high FC scores can be investigated phytochemically and pharmacologically in the future studies.

Efficacy and safety of novel herbal tablets in COVID-19 patients in hospital stay days, ICU admission and mortality rate thereof: An open-label, single-blind randomized clinical trial

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the super-spreading virus, has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the novel suggested herbal compound, formulated as compressed tablets, in reducing the length of hospital stay (LoS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality in confirmed COVID-19 cases. Methods: Following an open-label, single-blind randomized clinical trial design, a total of 200 patients aged 18-65 admitted to Imam Reza hospital in Tabriz, northwest of Iran, were randomized to intervention and control groups in a 1:1 ratio, i.e., 100 subjects in each group. The former received standard treatment along with the compressed herbal tablets, and the latter only received the standard treatment. Adverse reactions incidence within 180 days after the beginning of the intervention was set as the primary safety endpoint. The most important and active ingredients of the tablets were Terminalia chebula, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Senna alexandrina, Ferrula asafoetida, Pistacia lentiscus, Zizyphus jujuba, Crocus sativus, Echinacea angustifolia, and Hyssopus officinalis. This trial is registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (code: IRCT20200522047545N1). Results: Those in the intervention arm had significantly lower rates of LoS (7.38 vs. 9.45, P = 0.030), ICU admission (6 out of 100 vs. 32 out of 100, P = 0.000), and mortality (1 vs. 19 out of 100, P = 0.000). Conclusions: Our observations suggest that adequate improvement is provided by the prepared herbal compound along with substantial savings in hospitalization hoteling costs. While further multi-center studies with a larger sample size are needed to extend our knowledge regarding the effect of this new option, these novel clinical data may well provide a new alternative for the management of COVID-19 disease.

PGRMC1 Promotes Progestin-Dependent Proliferation of Breast Cancer Cells by Binding Prohibitins Resulting in Activation of ERα Signaling

Simple Summary

Combined menopausal hormone therapy is associated with increased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. In our previous studies, progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) was shown to play a role in progestins’ elicitation of enhanced proliferation of breast cancer cells. Here we describe a potential mechanism by which PGRMC1 contributes to breast cancer progression via interaction with prohibitins, inhibiting their function as transcriptional repressors. This facilitates estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) transcriptional activity and enhances oncogenic signaling upon treatment with certain progestins, including norethisterone and dydrogesterone. Our data underline the contribution of PGRMC1 to especially hormone receptor positive breast cancer pathogenesis and demonstrate the need for further studies to understand its role in cancer.

Abstract

In previous studies, we reported that progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) is implicated in progestin signaling and possibly associated with increased breast cancer risk upon combined hormone replacement therapy. To gain mechanistic insight, we searched for potential PGRMC1 interaction partners upon progestin treatment by co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. The interactions with the identified partners were further characterized with respect to PGRMC1 phosphorylation status and with emphasis on the crosstalk between PGRMC1 and estrogen receptor α (ERα). We report that PGRMC1 overexpression resulted in increased proliferation of hormone receptor positive breast cancer cell lines upon treatment with a subgroup of progestins including norethisterone and dydrogesterone that promote PGRMC1-phosphorylation on S181. The ERα modulators prohibitin-1 (PHB1) and prohibitin-2 (PHB2) interact with PGRMC1 in dependency on S181-phosphorylation upon treatment with the same progestins. Moreover, increased interaction between PGRMC1 and PHBs correlated with decreased binding of PHBs to ERα and subsequent ERα activation. Inhibition of either PGRMC1 or ERα abolished this effect. In summary, we provide strong evidence that activated PGRMC1 associates with PHBs, competitively removing them from ERα, which then can develop its transcriptional activities on target genes. This study emphasizes the role of PGRMC1 in a key breast cancer signaling pathway which may provide a new avenue to target hormone-dependent breast cancer.

Liquiritin reduces lipopolysaccharide-aroused HaCaT cell inflammation damage via regulation of microRNA-31/MyD88

BACKGROUND

Pressure ulcers are a common issue for people who have limited mobility. This study tested the impact of liquiritin on human keratinocyte HaCaT cell inflammatory damage aroused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODS

HaCaT cells were underwent LPS and/or liquiritin incubation. Cell viability, apoptosis and inflammatory molecules interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) expressions, along with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways activities were tested by MTT assay, Guava Nexin assay, ELISA and western blotting, respectively. qRT-PCR was done for measuring microRNA-31 (miR-31) expression. miR-31 inhibitor was transfected to silence miR-31. Animal pressure ulcers was established on the dorsal skin of adult rats. The effects of liquiritin on wound healing were analyzed by measuring wound closure rates.

RESULTS

LPS aroused HaCaT cell inflammatory damage, as evidenced by the decrease of cell viability, increase of cell apoptosis and enhanced expressions of IL-6, TNF-α and Cox-2. Liquiritin protected HaCaT cells against LPS-aroused inflammatory damage through increasing cell viability, decreasing cell apoptosis, and reducing IL-6, TNF-α and Cox-2 expressions. Liquiritin attenuated the LPS-aroused NF-κB and JNK pathways activation in HaCaT cells. Rat pressure ulcers model also confirmed that liquiritin promoted wound healing. In mechanism, miR-31 expression was boosted by liquiritin in HaCaT cells. Silencing miR-31 weakened the impacts of liquiritin on LPS-irritated HaCaT cells. Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) was a target of miR-31 in HaCaT cells.

CONCLUSION

This research affirmed the beneficial impact of liquiritin on pressure ulcers. Liquiritin reduced LPS-aroused HaCaT cell inflammatory damage might be implemented via raising miR-31 expression, lowering MyD88 expression, and repressing NF-κB and JNK pathways.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum Seed Oil Attenuates LPS-Induced BEAS-2B Cell Activation and Inflammation by Inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Background

Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed oil (ZBSO) is a natural essential oil derived from the seeds of the Chinese medicinal plant Zanthoxylum bungeanum, which has been investigated for antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. However, little is known regarding the effects of ZBSO in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

In this study, lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish an in vitro model of COPD, and cytotoxicity was detected by a cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay. Griess test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blot, immunofluorescence, and molecular docking analyses were used to investigate the effects of ZBSO and its potential mechanisms.

Results

The results showed that LPS promoted the expression of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE2), suggesting that LPS can induce inflammation and oxidative stress in BEAS-2B cells. ZBSO inhibits the LPS-induced expression of inflammatory mediators and proinflammatory cytokines in BEAS-2B cells. The molecular docking results indicated that active components in ZBSO could successfully dock with toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and p65. Immunofluorescence and western blot analyses further demonstrated that ZBSO repressed protein expression associated with the TLR4/MyD88/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway.

Conclusions

ZBSO reduced the inflammatory response and oxidative stress induced by LPS by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby suppressing COPD. ZBSO may represent a promising therapeutic candidate for COPD treatment.

Lycopene-Loaded Microemulsion Regulates Neurogenesis in Rats with Aβ-Induced Alzheimer's Disease Rats Based on the Wnt/β-catenin Pathway

Objective

To investigate the effects of lycopene-loaded microemulsion (LME) on the cognitive function and neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and subventricular (SVZ) region of rats with amyloid β- (Aβ-) induced Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its mechanism based on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Methods

Healthy Wistar rats were divided into four groups: the blank control (CON), AD control, traditional lycopene (LOO), and LME groups. The CON and AD groups were fed with normal saline, while the LOO group was fed with traditional lycopene, and the LME group was fed with lycopene-loaded microemulsion. Behavioral tests were performed after three weeks of gastric administration. Immunofluorescence-labeled cells were used to observe the differentiation and maturation of new nerve cells in the DG of the hippocampus and SVZ region. qRT-PCR and Western blotting detected the expression of neurogenesis genes and Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins, respectively.

Results

On the Morris water maze test, LME rats had significantly shortened movement trajectory on the searching platform, reduced escape latency time, and increased residence time on the original platform quadrant. In addition, more LME rats crossed the platform when it was removed. Thus, LME can improve the spatial learning and memory of Aβ-induced AD rats. On qRT-PCR, LME significantly increased Reelin, Nestin, and Pax6 gene expressions, which regulate neurogenesis. Immunofluorescence showed that LME could significantly increase BrdU⁺, Dcx⁺, BrdU⁺/Neun⁺, BrdU⁺/Dcx⁺ cells in the DG and SVZ regions, thus promoting neurogenesis. LME also reduced the number of Iba1⁺ and Iba1⁺/BrdU⁺ cells, thus reducing the neuroinflammatory response. On Western blot, LME upregulated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by upregulating Wnt3a, β-catenin, Disheveled (Dvl), and p-GSK3β and downregulating p-β-catenin and GSK3β.

Conclusion

LME attenuates cognitive impairment in Aβ-induced AD rats by promoting neurogenesis in the hippocampus and SVZ region through upregulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Liquiritigenin exerts the anti-cancer role in oral cancer via inducing autophagy-related apoptosis through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibition in vitro and in vivo

Operative treatment on oral cancer greatly damages the chewing and language function of the patient, we aim to find better solution with fewer side effects. The anti-tumor effects of Liquiritigenin (LQ) have been explored in kinds of cancers, but not in oral cancer. In this study, our purpose is to reveal the effects of LQ on oral cancer and the associated mechanism.Cell proliferation was examined through 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and 5-Ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine (EDU) staining. Cell apoptosis in cells and tissues were assessed by flow cytometry and terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, respectively. Expressions of AKT and light chain 3 (LC3) were detected through Immunofluorescence. In addition, xenograft model was established by injecting the CAL-27 cells (2 × 10⁶) subcutaneously into the right flanks of mice. Expression of Ki67 and Beclin1 in tissues was valued by Immunohistochemistry (IHC).We found that cell viability of CAL-27 and SCC-9 was effectively inhibited by LQ. Besides, obvious cell apoptosis and cell autophagy were induced by LQ. In addition, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was sharply inactivated by LQ in oral cancer cells. Corresponding in vivo experiments demonstrated that tumor growth was largely restricted, cell apoptosis was augmented and autophagy was enhanced by LQ. What is more, phosphorylation of AKT in tumor tissues could also be inhibited by LQ. LQ inhibited the progression of oral cancer through inducing autophagy-associated apoptosis via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibition, revealing a new possible scheme for the treatment of oral cancer.

Possible Use of Phytochemicals for Recovery from COVID-19-Induced Anosmia and Ageusia

The year 2020 became the year of the outbreak of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which escalated into a worldwide pandemic and continued into 2021. One of the unique symptoms of the SARS-CoV-2 disease, COVID-19, is the loss of chemical senses, i.e., smell and taste. Smell training is one of the methods used in facilitating recovery of the olfactory sense, and it uses essential oils of lemon, rose, clove, and eucalyptus. These essential oils were not selected based on their chemical constituents. Although scientific studies have shown that they improve recovery, there may be better combinations for facilitating recovery. Many phytochemicals have bioactive properties with anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects. In this review, we describe the chemical compounds with anti- inflammatory and anti-viral effects, and we list the plants that contain these chemical compounds. We expand the review from terpenes to the less volatile flavonoids in order to propose a combination of essential oils and diets that can be used to develop a new taste training method, as there has been no taste training so far. Finally, we discuss the possible use of these in clinical settings.

Identification of bioactive compounds from Glycyrrhiza glabra as possible inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and non-structural protein-15: a pharmacoinformatics study

At present, the world is facing a pandemic named as COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2. Traditional Chinese medicine has recommended the use of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza species) in the treatment of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to identify the active molecule from the liquorice against different protein targets of COVID-19 using an in-silico approach. The molecular docking simulation study of 20 compounds along with two standard antiviral drugs (Lopinavir and Rivabirin) was carried out with the help of Autodock vina software using two protein targets from COVID-19 i.e. spike glycoprotein (PDB ID: 6VSB) and Non-structural Protein-15 (Nsp15) endoribonuclease (PDB ID: 6W01). From the observed binding energy and the binding interactions, glyasperin A showed high affinity towards Nsp15 endoribonuclease with uridine specificity, while glycyrrhizic acid was found to be best suited for the binding pocket of spike glycoprotein and also prohibited the entry of the virus into the host cell. Further, the dynamic behavior of the best-docked molecules inside the spike glycoprotein and Nsp15 endoribonuclease were explored through all-atoms molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study. Several parameters from the MD simulation have substantiated the stability of protein-ligand stability. The binding free energy of both glyasperin A and glycyrrhizic acid was calculated from the entire MD simulation trajectory through the MM-PBSA approach and found to high binding affinity towards the respective protein receptor cavity. Thus, glyasperin A and glycyrrhizic acid could be considered as the best molecule from liquorice, which could find useful against COVID-19. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The potential of glycyrrhizin and licorice extract in combating COVID-19 and associated conditions

BACKGROUND

Several recent studies have stated that glycyrrhizin and licorice extract are present in most traditional Chinese medicine formulas used against SARS-CoV-2 in China. Significant data are showing that glycyrrhizin and licorice extract have multiple beneficial activities in combating most features of SARS-CoV-2.

PURPOSE

The aim of current review was to highlight recent progresses in research that showed the evidence of the potential use of glycyrrhizin and licorice extract against COVID-19.

METHODOLOGY

We have reviewed the information published from 1979 to October 2020. These studies demonstrated the effects , use and safety of glycyrrhizin and icorice extract against viral infections,bacterial infections, inflammatory disorders of lung ( in vitro and in vivo).  These studies were collated through online electronic databases research (Academic libraries as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Egyptian Knowledge Bank).

RESULTS

Pooled effect size of articles provides information about the rationale for using glycyrrhizin and licorice extract to treat COVID-19. Fifty studies demonstrate antiviral activity of glycyrrhizin and licorice extract. The most frequent mechanism of the antiviral activity is due to disrupting viral uptake into the host cells and disrupting the interaction between receptor- binding domain (RBD) of SARS-COV2 and ACE2 in recent articles. Fifty studies indicate that glycyrrhizin and licorice extract have significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Twenty five studies provide evidence for the protective effect of glycyrrhizin and licorice extract against inflammation-induced acute lung injury and cardiovascular disorders.

CONCLUSION

The current study showed several evidence regarding the beneficial effects of glycyrrhizin and licorice extract in combating COVID-19. More randomized clinical trials are needed to obtain a precise conclusion.

Simultaneous determination of twenty-five compounds with anti-inflammatory activity in Spatholobi Caulis by using an optimized UFLC-MS/MS method: An application to pharmacokinetic study

As a kind of commonly used Traditional Chinese Medicine in clinical, Spatholobi Caulis (SPC) contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds, including protocatechuate (1), nicotinic acid (2), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (3), salicylic acid (4), 6,9-dihydroxy megastigma-4,7-dien-3-one (5), 8,9-dihydroxy megastigma-4,6-dien-3-one (6), daidzin (7), genistin (8), isolariciresinol (9), ononin (10), 4',8-dimethoxy-7-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl isoflavone (11), 3'-methoxydaidzein (12), odoratin (13), spasuberol A (14), (+)-pinoresinol (15), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy cinnamic acid methyl ester (16), (+)-epipinoresinol (17), calycosin (18), 8-O-methylretusin (19), formononetin sodium (20), formononetin (21), biochanin A (22), butesuperin A (23), homovanillyl-4-oxo-nonanoate (24) and (6aR,11aR)-maackiain (25). The pharmacokinetic characteristics of these twenty-five compounds in rat plasma were quantitatively and simultaneously studied using a fast, sensitive and precise ultra fast liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) method after oral administration of aqueous extract of SPC to rats. The mobile phase consists of acetonitrile and 0.5 mM ammonium acetate in water, and these compounds were well separated at a gradient elution program with flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. Carbamazepine was employed as the internal standard (IS) and all samples were precipitated with MeOH-ACN (2:1, v/v). The analytical method has been proved to be good linearity (R² ≥ 0.9957), precise, accurate, stable, recovery and matrix effect, which applicated becomingly to study the pharmacokinetic processes of these compounds in rat plasma. In addition, these twenty-five compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory activity on the inflammatory model of NO over production in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Isoflavones, especially compounds 20-22 (The IC₅₀ of which were 22.75 μM, 21.11 μM and 48.29 μM, respectively.) might be the important constituents for anti-inflammatory activity of SPC. This study provides reference values for the clinical application, in-depth study on new dosage forms and pharmacological activities of SPC.

Glycyrrhizic Acid: A Natural Plant Ingredient as a Drug Candidate to Treat COVID-19

The total number of cumulative cases and deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is still increasing worldwide. Although many countries have actively implemented vaccination strategies to curb the epidemic, there is no specific efficient therapeutic drug for this virus to effectively reduce deaths. Therefore, the underappreciated macromolecular compounds have become the spotlight of research. Furthermore, the medicinal compounds in plants that provide myriad possibilities to treat human diseases have become of utmost importance. Experience indicates that Traditional Chinese medicine effectively treats SARS and has been used for treating patients with COVID-19 in China. As one of the world's oldest herbal remedies, licorice is used for treating patients with all stages of COVID-19. Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), the main active compound in licorice, has been proven effective in killing the SARS virus. Meanwhile, as a natural plant molecule, GA can also directly target important protein structures of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we summarized the immune synergy of GA and its potential role in treating COVID-19 complications. Besides, we reviewed its anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system and its positive effects in cooperation with various drugs to fight against COVID-19 and its comorbidities. The purpose of this review is to elucidate and suggest that GA can be used as a potential drug during COVID-19 treatment.

Gancaonin N from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Attenuates the Inflammatory Response by Downregulating the NF-κB/MAPK Pathway on an Acute Pneumonia In Vitro Model

Acute pneumonia is an inflammatory disease caused by several pathogens, with symptoms such as fever and chest pain, to which children are particularly vulnerable. Gancaonin N is a prenylated isoflavone of Glycyrrhiza uralensis that has been used in the treatment of various diseases in oriental medicine. There are little data on the anti-inflammatory efficacy of Gancaonin N, and its effects and mechanisms on acute pneumonia are unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted as a preliminary analysis of the anti-inflammatory effect of Gancaonin N in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells, and to identify its preventive effect on the lung inflammatory response and the molecular mechanisms underlying it. In this study, Gancaonin N inhibited the production of NO and PGE2 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and significantly reduced the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins at non-cytotoxic concentrations. In addition, in LPS-induced A549 cells, Gancaonin N significantly reduced the expression of COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Moreover, Gancaonin N reduced MAPK signaling pathway phosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear translocation. Therefore, Gancaonin N relieved the inflammatory response by inactivating the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways; thus, it is a potential natural anti-inflammatory agent that can be used in the treatment of acute pneumonia.

ARPI, β-AS, and UGE regulate glycyrrhizin biosynthesis in Glycyrrhiza uralensis hairy roots

ARPI, β-AS, and UGE were cloned from G. uralensis and their regulatory effects on glycyrrhizin biosynthesis were investigated. β-AS and UGE but not ARPI positively regulate the biosynthesis of glycyrrhizin. Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. has been used to treat respiratory, gastric, and liver diseases since ancient China. The most important and widely studied active component in G. uralensis is glycyrrhizin (GC). Our pervious RNA-Seq study shows that GC biosynthesis is regulated by multiple biosynthetic pathways. In this study, three target genes, ARPI, β-AS, and UGE from different pathways were selected and their regulatory effects on GC biosynthesis were investigated using G. uralensis hairy roots. Our data show that hairy roots knocking out ARPI or UGE died soon after induction, indicating that the genes are essential for the growth of G. uralensis hairy roots. Hairy roots with β-AS knocked out grew healthily. However, they failed to produce GC, suggesting that β-AS is required for triterpenoid skeleton formation. Conversely, overexpression of UGE or β-AS significantly increased the GC content, whereas overexpression of ARPI had no obvious effects on GC accumulation in G. uralensis hairy roots. Our findings demonstrate that β-AS and UGE positively regulate the biosynthesis of GC.

Therapeutic Promises of Medicinal Plants in Bangladesh and Their Bioactive Compounds against Ulcers and Inflammatory Diseases

When functioning properly, the stomach is the center of both physical and mental satisfaction. Gastrointestinal disorders, or malfunctioning of the stomach, due to infections caused by various biological entities and physiochemical abnormalities, are now widespread, with most of the diseases being inflammatory, which, depending on the position and degree of inflammation, have different names such as peptic or gastric ulcers, irritable bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis, and so on. While many synthetic drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are now extensively used to treat these diseases, their harmful and long-term side effects cannot be ignored. To treat these diseases safely and successfully, different potent medicinal plants and their active components are considered game-changers. In consideration of this, the present review aimed to reveal a general and comprehensive updated overview of the anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory activities of medicinal plants. To emphasize the efficacy of the medicinal plants, various bioactive compounds from the plant extract, their experimental animal models, and clinical trials are depicted.

Quantitative 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Method for Assessing the Purity of Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate

A simple, rapid, accurate, and selective quantitative method based on ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) was successfully established and developed for assessing the purity of dipotassium glycyrrhizinate (KG). In this study, using potassium hydrogen phthalate and fumaric acid as internal standard (IS), several important experimental parameters, such as relaxation delay and pulse angle, were explored. Reliability, specificity, linearity, limit of quantification, precision, stability, and accuracy were also validated. Calibration results obtained from qNMR were consistent with those obtained from HPLC coupled with ultraviolet detection. The proposed method, independent of the reference standard substance, is a useful, reliable, and practical protocol for the determination of KG and glycyrrhizin analogs.

Phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, and potential health benefits of Gly cyrrhiza glabra

Nature has always been an excellent source for many therapeutic compounds providing us with many medicinal plants and microorganisms producing beneficial chemicals. Therefore, the demand for medicinal plants, cosmetics, and health products is always on the rise. One such plant from the Leguminosae family is licorice and the scientific name is Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. It is an herb-type plant with medicinal value. In the following article, we shall elaborately look at the plants' phytochemical constituents and the pharmacological impact of those substances. Several compounds such as glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizinic acid, isoliquiritin, and glycyrrhizic acid have been found in this plant, which can provide pharmacological benefit to us with its anti-cancer, anti-atherogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-asthmatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antispasmodic activity. Alongside, these products have a different role in hepatoprotective, immunologic, memory-enhancing activity. They can stimulate hair growth, control obesity, and have anti-depressants, sedatives, and anticoagulant activity. This review examines recent studies on the phytochemical and pharmacological data and describes some side effects and toxicity of licorice and its bioactive components.

Network Pharmacology-Based Validation of the Efficacy of Huiyangjiuji Decoction in the Treatment of Experimental Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is the major type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by an overactive immune responses and destruction of the colorectal epithelium with intricate pathological factors. In China, Huiyangjiuji decoction (HYJJ) has been widely administered against inflammation, but the underlying mechanical mechanisms are not known. A murine model of colitis was established by orally feeding 4% dextran sodium sulfate for 5 days. Intestinal organoids (IOs) were treated with TNFα (Tumor necrosis factor-α) as an ex-vivo UC model. A scratch assay combined with a co-culture system that incubated murine epithelial cell line (IEC-6) with macrophages (Mφs) was utilized to assess epithelial recovery under inflammatory conditions. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to elucidate the mechanism of HYJJ decoction. In the present study, we confirmed that HYJJ considerably alleviated of DSS-induced colitis, as evidenced by the improved intestinal injury and fecal albumin, as well as feces blood. Network pharmacology analysis identified the active components in HYJJ formula, and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that HYJJ-target genes were enriched in pathogen-induced infections, cancer-related as well as inflammatory pathways. Consistently, RNA-sequencing demonstrated that HYJJ treated inhibited cytokine-cytokine interaction, IBD as well as TNF signaling pathways, confirming the anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic role of HYJJ decoction. In-vitro experimental evidence confirmed the suppression of pro-interleukins by HYJJ, including IL-2, IL-10 and IL-12. Moreover, the contribution of HYJJ to mucosal healing was corroborated by ex-vivo experiments, in which HYJJ rescued TNFα-compromised IOs functions, i.e., elevated mitochondrial stress (MOS) and impaired regeneration capacity. IEC-6 cells co-culture with Mφs from HYJJ-treated experimental colitis mice showed an improved migration capacity as compared to those incubated with Mφs from untreated colitis mice. We conclude that HYJJ re-establishes homeostasis of the gut epithelium during colitis by suppressing inflammation and orchestrating cytokines interaction.

Total Flavonoids of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Alleviates Irinotecan-Induced Colitis via Modification of Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolism

Irinotecan (CPT-11)-induced gastrointestinal toxicity strongly limits its anticancer efficacy. Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., especially flavonoids, has strong anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Herein, we investigate the protective effect of the total flavonoids of G. uralensis (TFGU) on CPT-11-induced colitis mice from the perspective of gut microbiota and fecal metabolism. The body weight and colon length of mice were measured. Our results showed that oral administration of TFGU significantly attenuated the loss of body weight and the shortening of colon length induced by CPT-11. The elevated disease activity index and histological score of colon as well as the up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the colonic tissue of CPT-11-treated mice were significantly decreased by TFGU. Meanwhile, TFGU restored the perturbed gut microbial structure and function in CPT-11-treated mice to near normal level. TFGU also effectively reversed the CPT-11-induced fecal metabolic disorders in mice, mainly call backing the hypoxanthine and uric acid in purine metabolism. Spearman's correlation analysis further revealed that Lactobacillus abundance negatively correlated with fecal uric acid concentration, suggesting the pivotal role of gut microbiota in CPT-11-induced colitis. Since uric acid is a ligand of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, TFGU was further validated to inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome by CPT-11. Our findings suggest TFGU can correct the overall gut microbial dysbiosis and fecal metabolic disorders in the CPT-11-induced colitis mice, underscoring the potential of using dietary G. uralensis as a chemotherapeutic adjuvant.

Green Propolis Compounds (Baccarin and p-Coumaric Acid) Show Beneficial Effects in Mice for Melanoma Induced by B16f10

Background: Cutaneous melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, with the worst prognosis, and it affects a younger population than most cancers. The high metastatic index, in more advanced stages, and the high aggressiveness decrease the effectiveness of currently used therapies, such as surgical removal, radiotherapy, cryotherapy, and chemotherapy, used alone or in combination. Based on these disadvantages, research focused on alternative medicine offers great potential for therapeutic innovation. Medicinal plants represent a remarkable source of compounds for the treatment of various diseases. Methods: In this study, we investigated the tumoral behavior of melanoma under treatment with the compounds baccharin and p-coumaric acid, extracted from green propolis, in mice inoculated with B16F10 cells for 26 days. Results: A significant modulation in the number of inflammatory cells recruited to the tumor region and blood in the groups treated with the compounds was observed. In addition, a significant reduction in the amount of blood vessels and mitosis in the neoplastic area was noticed. Conclusions: Through our research, we confirmed that baccharin and coumaric acid, isolated substances from Brazilian green propolis, have a promising anticarcinogenic potential to be explored for the development of new antitumor agents, adhering to the trend of drugs with greater tolerance and biological effectiveness.

Glabridin Relaxes Vascular Smooth Muscles by Activating BKCa Channels and Inhibiting Phosphodiesterase in Human Saphenous Vein

The aim of the current study was to investigate the pharmacological activity of glabridin on the isolated human saphenous vein (SV) and explore the underlying mechanisms. Samples of patients' SVs were removed during bypass surgery, and 4-mm lengths of the vessels were placed in Krebs solution at +4°C and hung in an isolated organ bath to assess their contraction/relaxation responses. The contraction/relaxation responses were recorded to observe if the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)/protein kinase G (PKG) pathway mediates the relaxant effect of glabridin after treatment with blockers like ODQ (a guanylate cyclase inhibitor), KT5823 (a PKG inhibitor), isobutylmethylxanthine [IBMX, a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor], and cantharidin [Cant, a myosin light-chain phosphatase (MLCP) inhibitor]. Moreover, nitric oxide (NO), cGMP, and PKG levels in SV tissues were determined by ELISA after incubation with glabridin, N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-Name, a NO synthetase inhibitor), phenylephrine (PE), ODQ, IBMX, and KT5823. The results showed that glabridin relaxed the vascular smooth muscle of human SV pretreated with PE in a dose-dependent manner, which was independent of the endothelium. The vasorelaxant effect of glabridin was only inhibited by iberiotoxin (IbTX), Cant, and KT5823. Glabridin increased cGMP and PKG levels in SV homogenates, whereas it did not alter the NO level. The enhancing effects of cGMP and PKG levels by glabridin were abolished by ODQ and KT5823. In conclusion, glabridin has a vasorelaxant effect, which is associated with the activation of BK_Ca channels and inhibition of PDE.

Potential Leads from Liquorice Against SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease using Molecular Docking Simulation Studies

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

At present, the world is facing a global pandemic threat of SARSCoV- 2 or COVID-19 and to date, there are no clinically approved vaccines or antiviral drugs available for the treatment of coronavirus infections. Studies conducted in China recommended the use of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza species), an integral medicinal herb of traditional Chinese medicine, in the deactivation of COVID-19. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to identify the leads from the liquorice plant against COVID-19 using molecular docking simulation studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A set of reported bioactive compounds of liquorice were investigated for COVID-19 main protease (M^pro) inhibitory potential. The study was conducted on Autodock vina software using COVID-19 M^pro as a target protein having PDB ID: 6LU7.

RESULTS

Out of the total 20 docked compounds, only six compounds showed the best affinity towards the protein target, which included glycyrrhizic acid, isoliquiritin apioside, glyasperin A, liquiritin, 1-methoxyphaseollidin and hedysarimcoumestan B. From the overall observation, glycyrrhizic acid followed by isoliquiritin apioside demonstrated the best affinity towards M^pro representing the binding energy of -8.6 and -7.9 Kcal/mol, respectively. Nevertheless, the other four compounds were also quite comparable with the later one.

CONCLUSION

From the present investigation, we conclude that the compounds having oxane ring and chromenone ring substituted with hydroxyl 3-methylbut-2-enyl group could be the best alternative for the development of new leads from liquorice plant against COVID-19.

Glycyrrhizin Attenuates Carcinogenesis by Inhibiting the Inflammatory Response in a Murine Model of Colorectal Cancer

Glycyrrhizin (GL), an important active ingredient of licorice root, which weakens the proinflammatory effects of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) by blocking HMGB1 signaling. In this study, we investigated whether GL could suppress inflammation and carcinogenesis in an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced murine model of colorectal cancer. ICR mice were divided into four groups (n = 5, each)—control group, GL group, colon cancer (CC) group, and GL-treated CC (CC + GL) group, and sacrificed after 20 weeks. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The colonic tissue samples were immunohistochemically stained with DNA damage markers (8-nitroguanine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxy-guanosine), inflammatory markers (COX-2 and HMGB1), and stem cell markers (YAP1 and SOX9). The average number of colonic tumors and the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the CC + GL group were significantly lower than those in the CC group. The levels of all inflammatory and cancer markers were significantly reduced in the CC + GL group. These results suggest that GL inhibits the inflammatory response by binding HMGB1, thereby inhibiting DNA damage and cancer stem cell proliferation and dedifferentiation. In conclusion, GL significantly attenuates the pathogenesis of AOM/DSS-induced colorectal cancer by inhibiting HMGB1-TLR4-NF-κB signaling.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (Fabales, Leguminosae)

The complete mitochondrial genome of an important medicinal plant Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. is reported for the first time. The mitochondrial genome sequence of G. uralensis was 463,869 bp in length and had a GC content of 45.19%. The genome contained 40 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 30 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and three ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs). The phylogenetic tree was built based on 25 plants, using the maximum-likelihood method. These data will provide certain help to determine the taxonomic status of G. uralensis.

Chinese herbs and acupuncture to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with a variety of causes. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which includes the two main approaches of acupuncture and herbal medication, views the human body as a self-controlled system network. Fundamental theories, including "qi," the five elements, and the theory of viscera, form the basis for classification. Diseases in humans are considered to be caused by an imbalance of "yang qi" and "yin qi" that lead to the nonhomeostasis of organs. Acupuncture is derived from 12 main meridians and 365 acupuncture points characterized by "blood and qi." Needling of different positions corresponds to specific disease treatments to increase qi. Treatment with Chinese herbal medicines is based on syndrome differentiation characterized as "Zheng" which differs from the cause orientation approach of Western medicine. In this article, we review basic and clinical research studies that describe TCM herbs and acupuncture for the treatment of AD. Moreover, we propose that these two approaches be integrated to improve the outcomes for AD patients.

Systematic elucidation of the mechanism of Jingyin granule in the treatment of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pneumonia via Network Pharmacology

Background: Jingyin granule is one of the widely used traditional Chinese medicine mixture composed of multiple herbs in the treatment of respiratory system diseases. The mechanism of its therapeutic effects has still been obscure. The aim of this study is to use the network pharmacology approach for identification of the main active ingredients of Jingyin granule against COVID-19 targets and to explore their therapeutic mechanism. Material and Method: In this study, the ingredients of Jingyin granule were evaluated by the usage of Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database, and the interactions between potential gene targets and ingredients were identified using the SwissTargetPrediction database. Meanwhile the possible efficient targets COVID-19 acts on were identified via Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database, DisGeNET database and GeneCards database. In addition, functions, components and pathways were identified by Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis. Protein interaction, ingredients-targets network was established. Results: Our findings showed that numerous ingredients of Jingyin granule could act on COVID-19 with 88 target genes. GO enrichment analysis, KEGG pathway analysis, and protein-protein interaction network revealed that these targets were interrelated with regulation of immune function, directly targeting disease genes. Conclusions: Jingyin granule could be utilized to exert systematic pharmacological effects. Jingyin granule could directly target the major genes, and also regulate the immune system, acting as oblique disease treatment.

Exploring the Pivotal Immunomodulatory and Anti-Inflammatory Potentials of Glycyrrhizic and Glycyrrhetinic Acids

Licorice extract is a Chinese herbal medication most often used as a demulcent or elixir. The extract usually consists of many components but the key ingredients are glycyrrhizic (GL) and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA). GL and GA function as potent antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor agents, and immuneregulators. GL and GA have potent activities against hepatitis A, B, and C viruses, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, vesicular stomatitis virus, herpes simplex virus, influenza A, severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, vaccinia virus, and arboviruses. Also, GA was observed to be of therapeutic valve in human enterovirus 71, which was recognized as the utmost regular virus responsible for hand, foot, and mouth disease. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of GL and GA is realized via cytokines like interferon-γ, tumor necrotizing factor-α, interleukin- (IL-) 1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and IL-17. They also modulate anti-inflammatory mechanisms like intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 and P-selectin, enzymes like inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and transcription factors such as nuclear factor-kappa B, signal transducer and activator of transcription- (STAT-) 3, and STAT-6. Furthermore, DCs treated with GL were capable of influencing T-cell differentiation toward Th1 subset. Moreover, GA is capable of blocking prostaglandin-E2 synthesis via blockade of cyclooxygenase- (COX-) 2 resulting in concurrent augmentation nitric oxide production through the enhancement of iNOS2 mRNA secretion in Leishmania-infected macrophages. GA is capable of inhibiting toll-like receptors as well as high-mobility group box 1.

Cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of polyherbal formulations, Joint Pain Spl and Rumalaya Forte on lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation in IC-21 macrophages

AIM

To test the effectiveness of marketed polyherbal formulations on lipopolysaccharide induced inflammatory conditions in macrophages.

BACKGROUND

Usage of herbal compounds among patients suffered by arthritis and cancer is increasing every year. Many anti-inflammatory herbal products available in the market should be screened thoroughly for their possible mechanism of action.

OBJECTIVE

Joint Pain Spl (JPS) is a polyherbal dietary food supplement composed of 13 herbal plants and Rumalaya Forte (RF) is a polyherbal formulation comprising of 6 herbal plants were tested for its cytotoxicity, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in LPS treated IC-21 peritoneal macrophages.

METHODS

Commercially available JPS and RF powder was used to prepare the extract. The aqueous and methanol extracts were quantified for the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compound and confirmed with HPLC. In vitro DPPH free scavenging activity was performed. Cytotoxicity was tested by MTT assay. Anti-inflammatory activity was tested using lipopolysaccharide stimulated IC-21 peritoneal macrophage cells.

RESULTS

The phytochemical screening showed the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in JPS and RF. The aqueous and methanol extracts of JPS and RF possesses significant DPPH free radical scavenging activity. MTT assay revealed that 90.64% (aqueous extract) and 92.21% (methanol extract) of exposed macrophages are viable even after 24h exposure of maximal tested concentrations of herbal formulations. Pre-treatment of JPS and RF on LPS induced IC-21 macrophages showed an reduction in nitric oxide production (maximal 79.95%) and high level of superoxide anion scavenging activity (maximal 82.5%) over control.

CONCLUSION

The two tested poly herbal formulations such as JPS and RF possesses anti-inflammatory activity by modulating free radical generation in IC-21 macrophages. Thus the presence of the phenolic and flavonoid compounds may contribute to the antioxidant activity.

Liquorice for pain?

Liquorice has a long history of use in traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic and herbal medicine. The liquorice plant contains numerous bioactive compounds, including triterpenes, flavonoids and secondary metabolites, with glycyrrhizin being the main active compound. Liquorice constituents have been found to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective properties. In addition, they appear to have antidepressant actions and effects on morphine tolerance. Glycyrrhizin, its metabolite glycyrrhetic (glycyrrhetinic) acid and other liquorice-derived compounds such as isoflavonoids and trans-chalcones, exert potent anti-inflammatory effects via a wide range of mechanisms including high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) inhibition, gap junction blockade and α_2A-adrenoceptor antagonism. These properties, together with an increasing body of preclinical studies and a long history of use in herbal medicine, suggest that liquorice constituents may be useful for pain management. Glycyrrhizin is used widely in the confectionary, food and tobacco industries, but has documented adverse effects that may limit clinical use. Whether liquorice plant-derived compounds represent a novel class of analgesics is yet to be established. Having a host of bioactive compounds with a broad range of mechanisms of effect, liquorice is a plant that, in the future, may give rise to new therapies for pain.

SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses: What Does Oxidative Stress Have to Do with It?

The phenomenon of oxidative stress, characterized as an imbalance in the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant responses, is a well-known inflammatory mechanism and constitutes an important cellular process. The relationship of viral infections, reactive species production, oxidative stress, and the antiviral response is relevant. Therefore, the aim of this review is to report studies showing how reactive oxygen species may positively or negatively affect the pathophysiology of viral infection. We focus on known respiratory viral infections, especially severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs), in an attempt to provide important information on the challenges posed by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Because antiviral therapies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2) are rare, knowledge about relevant antioxidant compounds and oxidative pathways may be important for understanding viral pathogenesis and identifying possible therapeutic targets.

Recent advances in chemical analysis of licorice (Gan-Cao)

Gan-Cao, or licorice, the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G.glabra, and G.inflata, has received considerable interest due to its extensive application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions (60% approximately), clinical therapy, and as food additives world-wide. Chemical analysis is an important approach to understand the active pharmaceutical components in licorice and its prescriptions, as well as to develop novel methodologies for their quality assessment and control. This comprehensive review describes the advances in the chemical analysis, including sample preparation methods, qualitative and quantitative analysis and biological specimen analysis, based on 113 references for the recent years. Newly established methods are summarized, such as high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS), capillary electrophoresis (CE) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR), which allows the identification, authentication, and simultaneous detection of multiple compounds in licorice with higher throughput and sensitivity. It is anticipated that this review could provide imperative information for improving the existing quality evaluation methods of licorice and afford scientific basis for further researches on the pharmacodynamic substances of licorice.

Targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1, for cancer treatment: Recent advances in developing small-molecule inhibitors from natural compounds

Rapid progress in molecular cancer biology coupled with the discovery of novel oncology drugs has opened new horizons for cancer target discovery. As one of the crucial signaling pathways related to tumorigenesis, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) coordinates the activity of many transcription factors and their downstream molecules that impact tumor growth and metastasis. Accumulating evidence suggests that the transcriptional responses to acute hypoxia are mainly attributable to HIF-1α. Moreover, the overexpression of HIF-1α in several solid cancers has been found to be strongly associated with poor prognosis. Thus, pharmacological targeting of the HIF-1 signaling pathways has been considered as a new strategy for cancer therapy in the recent years. Although over the past decade, tremendous efforts have been made in preclinical studies to develop new HIF-1 inhibitors from natural products (reservoirs of novel therapeutic agents), to date, these efforts have not been successfully translated into clinically available treatments. In this review, we provide new insights into the bio-pharmacological considerations for selecting natural compounds as potential HIF-1 inhibitors to accelerate anti-cancer drug development. In addition, we highlighted the importance of assessing the dependency of cancer on HIF1A to shortlist cancer types as suitable disease models. This may subsequently lead to new paradigms for discovering more HIF-1 inhibitors derived from natural products and facilitate the development of potent therapeutic agents targeting specific cancer types.

Application of Chinese Medicine in the Management of Critical Conditions: A Review on Sepsis

Critical care medicine is a medical specialty engaging the diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients who have or are likely to have life-threatening organ failure. Sepsis, a life-threatening condition that arises when the body responds to infection, is currently the major cause of death in intensive care units (ICU). Although progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of sepsis, many drawbacks in sepsis treatment remains unresolved. For example, antimicrobial resistance, controversial of glucocorticoids use, prolonged duration of ICU care and the subsequent high cost of the treatment. Recent years have witnessed a growing trend of applying traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in sepsis management. The TCM application emphasizes use of herbal formulation to balance immune responses to infection, which include clearing heat and toxin, promoting blood circulation and removing its stasis, enhancing gastrointestinal function, and strengthening body resistance. In this paper, we will provide an overview of the current status of Chinese herbal formulations, single herbs, and isolated compounds, as an add-on therapy to the standard Western treatment in the sepsis management. With the current trajectory of worldwide pandemic eruption of newly identified Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), the adjuvant TCM therapy can be used in the ICU to treat critically ill patients infected with the novel coronavirus.

Glycyrrhizin: An old weapon against a novel coronavirus

Currently, over 100 countries are fighting against a common enemy, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2, which causes COVID-19. This has created a demand for a substance whose effectiveness has already been demonstrated in a similar scenario. Glycyrrhizin (GZ) is a promising agent against SARS-CoV-2 as its antiviral activity against SARS-CoV has already been confirmed. It is worthwhile to extrapolate from its proven therapeutic effects as there is a high similarity in the structure and genome of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. There are many possible mechanisms through which GZ acts against viruses: increasing nitrous oxide production in macrophages, affecting transcription factors and cellular signalling pathways, directly altering the viral lipid-bilayer membrane, and binding to the ACE2 receptor. In this review, we discuss the possible use of GZ in the COVID-19 setting, where topical administration appears to be promising, with the nasal and oral cavity notably being the potent location in terms of viral load. The most recently published papers on the distribution of ACE2 in the human body and documented binding of GZ to this receptor, as well as its antiviral activity, suggest that GZ can be used as a therapeutic for COVID-19 and as a preventive agent against SARS-CoV-2.