The Neuroprotective Effect of Glycyrrhizic Acid on an Experimental Model of Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Abstract

Cerebral ischemia is still one of the most important topics in neurosciences. Our study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective and anti-oxidant effects of glycyrrhizic acid on focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Twenty-four rats were divided equally into three groups. A middle cerebral artery occlusion model was performed in this study where sham and glycyrrhizic acid were administered intraperitoneally following middle cerebral artery occlusion. Group I was evaluated as control. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF1) levels were analyzed biochemically on the right cerebral hemisphere, while ischemic histopathological studies were completed to investigate the anti-oxidant status. Biochemical results showed that SOD and NRF1 levels were significantly increased in the glycyrrhizic acid group compared with the sham group while MDA levels were significantly decreased. On histopathological examination, cerebral edema, vacuolization, degeneration, and destruction of neurons were decreased in the glycyrrhizic acid group compared with the sham group. Cerebral ischemia was attenuated by glycyrrhizic acid administration. These observations indicate that glycyrrhizic acid may have potential as a therapeutic agent in cerebral ischemia by preventing oxidative stress.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Brain-targeted glycyrrhizic-acid-loaded surface decorated nanoparticles for treatment of cerebral ischaemia and its toxicity assessment

“…Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) (RxBiosciences, Gaithersburg, MD) and glycyrrhetinic acids [6]. The antioxidant and neuroprotective potential of GA, [7][8][9][10][11], may be used to treat neurological disorders such as cerebral ischaemia [7,8].…”

LPS-induced Murine Neuroinflammation Model: Main Features and Suitability for Pre-clinical Assessment of Nutraceuticals

“…Glycyrrhizin (GRZ), a triterpenoid saponin compound composed of one molecule of glycyrrhetinic acid and two molecules of glucuronic acid, was shown to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo [ 128 - 130 ]. In peripherally LPS-treated C57BL/6J mice, orally administered GRZ significantly reduced brain expression of TNF-a, IL-1β, iNOS and COX-2 as determined by RT-PCR, immunohistochemical analysis and western blotting [ 92 ].…”

Leonurine protects ischemia-induced brain injury via modulating SOD, MDA and GABA levels

“…SOD is an endogenous mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme that removes excess free radicals that cause cerebral ischemic injury. Cerebral ischemia induces the production of numerous free radicals, resulting in an increase in the MDA level, and consumes SOD to reduce its activity, leading to a decrease in the SOD level [17,18] .…”