Glycyrol Suppresses Collagen-Induced Arthritis by Regulating Autoimmune and Inflammatory Responses

Abstract

Glycyrol is a natural compound extracted from Glycyrrhiza uralensis, first reported by us to be a new immunosuppressant. Here, we demonstrate its beneficial effect in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice, a model for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in man, and we document the underlying mechanisms. Peroral administration of glycyrol significantly reduced clinical scores, alleviated cartilage and bone erosion and reduced levels of serum inflammatory cytokines. Glycyrol also decreased delayed-type hypersensitivity, improved carbon clearance and reduced acetic acid-induced capillary permeability. Furthermore, glycyrol decreased NF-κB and NFAT transcriptional activities and inhibited IL-2 expression. The therapeutic effect of glycyrol was associated with down-regulation of both autoimmune and inflammatory reactions. In addition, we demonstrated that glycyrol has minimal acute toxicity in mice. Therefore, we propose that glycyrol may hold promise for future treatment of RA.

GdX/UBL4A‐knockout mice resist collagen‐induced arthritis by balancing the population of T h 1/T h 17 and regulatory T cells

“…A delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) assay was performed as previously described by Fu et al (29). The mice were initially sensitized by painting 50 ml of 1% 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) dissolved in acetone and peanut oil (1:1) on their shaved abdomens on d 1 and 2.…”

“…To address whether GdX regulates T-cell activity in vivo, we sought to investigate the function of T cells in a DTH model in which paired WT and GdX-KO mice (n = 10) from the same litters were challenged by DNFB (29). GdX-KO mice exhibited less ear edema than the WT mice in response to DNFB (Fig.…”

Chemical composition and pharmacological mechanism of Ephedra-Glycyrrhiza drug pair against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

“…compounds were OB ≥ 50%. For example, glycyro (OB =90.78%) has biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-angiogenesis and anti-allergy [29], which could treat arthritis by regulating autoimmunity and inflammation [30]; licopyranocoumarin (OB =80.36%) had effectiveness against HIV infection by acting on the adsorption and invasion process of HIV [31]; naringenin (OB =59.29%) had a therapeutic effect on oxidative stress, inflammation, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and nervous system disease [32]. Notably, quercetin (OB =46.43%) is an active compound of both ephedra and licorice, and it has several useful pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory [33,34] and antiviral [35].…”

Inhibition of Butyrylcholinesterase and Human Monoamine Oxidase-B by the Coumarin Glycyrol and Liquiritigenin Isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis

“…Glycyrol (GC), a coumarin derivative, has been reported to have anticancer [ 20 , 21 , 22 ], anti-fungal [ 23 ], anti-bacterial [ 24 ], anti-viral [ 25 , 26 ], anti-inflammatory [ 27 , 28 , 29 ], and immunosuppressive activities [ 30 ]. However, the ChE inhibitory activity of GC has not been reported to date.…”