Disease relevance of Glycyrrhiza

• We screened the extracts of repeatedly fractionated Escherichia coli expressing a Glycyrrhiza echinata cDNA library for the activity to convert a radiolabeled precursor into formononetin (7-hydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone), and a clone of 2-hydroxyisoflavanone dehydratase (HID) was isolated [1].
• Glycyrrhizin is one of the main bioactive components in liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch) which has recently been found to be highly active in inhibiting replication of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated virus [2].
• The effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. extract, glycyrrhizinic acid, 18 alpha- and 18 beta-glycyrrhetinic acids on the mutagenicity of the ethyl methanesulfonate, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and ribose-lysine Maillard model systems were investigated by using the Salmonella/microsome reversion assay [3].
• Licochalcone A, 3-a,a-dimethylallyl-4,4'-dihydroxy-6-methoxychalcone, from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata Beta (Leguminosae) (Xin-jiang liquorice) showed anti-inflammatory action towards mouse ear edema induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) by topical application [4].
• We report here that glycyrrhizic acid (GL), a component of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza radix), is active against EBV replication in superinfected Raji cells in a dose-dependent fashion [5].

High impact information on Glycyrrhiza

• For the triterpene glycyrrhizin (extracted from the licorice root Glycyrrhiza radix) the mode of anti-HIV action may at least in part be attributed to interference with virus-cell binding [6].
• The comparison of amino acid sequences revealed that CYP93B2 had 54% identity with the sequence of CYP93B1, which has recently been reported as a (2S)-flavanone 2-hydroxylase of Glycyrrhiza echinata L [7].
• Seven constituents, with antioxidant capacity were isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra [8].
• A cDNA encoding UDP-glucose: formononetin 7- O-glucosyltransferase, designated UGT73F1, was cloned from yeast extract-treated Glycyrrhiza echinata L. cell-suspension cultures using probes from Scutellaria baicalensis UDP-glucose: flavonoid 7- O-glucosyltransferase [9].
• cDNA cloning and expression of isoflavonoid-specific glucosyltransferase from Glycyrrhiza echinata cell-suspension cultures [9].

Chemical compound and disease context of Glycyrrhiza

• Studies on the effectiveness of Glycyrrhiza glabra polar lipid extract in intercepting reactive molecules generated from the illumination of the photosensitizers rose bengal and phenosafranin indicate that it is effective in preventing cytotoxicity against E. coli K12+ in a dose-related fashion using illuminated rose bengal [10].
• When the CHS-active cell-free extract was combined with the extract of Escherichia coli over expressing polyketide reductase (PKR) cDNA of licorice (Glycyrrhiza echinata), isoliquiritigenin (a 6'-deoxychalcone), in addition to naringenin (a 5-hydroxyflavanone), was detected as the reaction product from 4-coumaroyl-CoA, malonyl-CoA and NADPH [11].

Biological context of Glycyrrhiza

• Further investigation of the anti-CaP properties of PC-SPES revealed that two of its multicomponent herbs, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Scutellaria baicalensis, inhibited cell growth and down-regulated PSA in a manner comparable with PC-SPES [12].
• Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA; 1) is one of the major constituents of a traditional Chinese medicine, the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, called Gancao in Chinese. In the present paper, the biotransformation of GA by Mucor polymorphosporus (AS 3.3443) was investigated and eight metabolites were obtained [13].
• Digestion with endo-alpha-(1-->4)-polygalacturonase liberated the enzyme-resistant region (PG-1c) as an active site of the anti-complementary and mitogenic pectic polysaccharide (GR-2IIc) from Glycyrrhiza uralensis [14].
• Three chalcone isomerase isozymes in Glycyrrhiza echinata (Fabaceae) were separated by chromatofocusing and partially purified to examine their substrate specificities [15].
• Up-regulation of soyasaponin biosynthesis by methyl jasmonate in cultured cells of Glycyrrhiza glabra [16].

Anatomical context of Glycyrrhiza

• A novel neutral polysaccharide having activity on the reticuloendothelial system from the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis [17].
• Isoflavan derivatives, glabridin (1), hispaglabridin A (2), hispaglabridin B (3), 4'-Omethylglabridin (4) and 3'-hydroxy-4'-O-methylglabridin (5), isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra, were investigated for their ability to protect liver mitochondria against oxidative stresses [18].
• Activation of macrophages by crude polysaccharide fractions obtained from shoots of Glycyrrhiza glabra and hairy roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis in vitro [19].

Associations of Glycyrrhiza with chemical compounds

• In this study, we showed that nonaqueous fractions of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisher) extracted with ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetone, but not an aqueous extract, had PPAR-gamma ligand-binding activity with a GAL4-PPAR-gamma chimera assay [20].
• The effect of the consumption of glabridin, an isoflavan isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root, on the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation was studied in atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E deficient (E[o] mice) and was compared with that of the known flavonoids, quercetin and catechin [21].
• One step isolation and purification of liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Risch. using high-speed counter-current chromatography [22].
• Comparative estimation of glycyrrhetinic acid content of Lonchocarpus cyanescens and glycyrrhiza roots [23].
• Two compounds in the W fraction were identified by comparison with authentic samples as 8,9-dihydroxydihydromagnolol and liquiritigenin, metabolites previously isolated from M. officinalis and Glycyrrhiza glabra, respectively [24].

Gene context of Glycyrrhiza

• We now cloned a cDNA encoding SAM: 2,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavanone 4'-O-methyltransferase (HI4'OMT) through the screening of functionally expressed Glycyrrhiza echinata (Fabaceae) cDNAs [25].
• It is well-known that the mineralocorticoid action of glycyrrhizin, which is the major component of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, is caused by a defect in the conversion of cortisol to cortisone by the inhibition of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme activity [26].
• Angiogenic and proliferative effects of the cytokine VEGF in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells is inhibited by Glycyrrhiza glabra [27].
• Identification of tyrosinase inhibitors from Glycyrrhiza uralensis [28].
• CYP81E1, a cytochrome P450 cDNA of licorice (Glycyrrhiza echinata L.), encodes isoflavone 2'-hydroxylase [29].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Glycyrrhiza

• Determination of liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin in Glycyrrhiza uralensis and its medicinal preparations by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection [30].
• Licochalcone A, a novel flavonoid isolated from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata, has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in animal models [31].
• Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA for Glycyrrhiza glabra cycloartenol synthase [32].

References