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Planta Med 1991; 57(2): 119-121
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960045
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Mechanism of Anti-Inflammatory Action of Glycyrrhizin: Effect on Neutrophil Functions Including Reactive Oxygen Species Generation

Hirohiko Akamatsu, Jinro Komura, Yasuo Asada, Yukie Niwa
  • Department of Dermatology, Kansai Medical University, Fumizono-cho, Moriguchi, Osaka 570, Japan
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Publication History

1990

Publication Date:
05 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

The effect of glycyrrhizin on inflammatory mediators such as neutrophil functions including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was examined. Glycyrrhizin significantly decreased neutrophil-generated O- 2, H2O2 and OH in a dose-dependent manner. However, the drug did not reduce any of the ROS generated in a cell-free, xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. The drug did not affect neutrophil chemotaxis or phagocytosis, either. The present study indicates that glycyrrhizin is not an ROS scavenger but exerts an anti-inflammatory action by inhibiting the generation of ROS by neutrophils, the most potent inflammatory mediator at the site of inflammation.

Key words

Glycyrrhiza glabra - glycyrrhizin - anti-inflammatory activity - reactive oxygen species - neutrophil functions