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PubMed2026

T2T and chromosome-level genome assemblies provide insights into the genetic basis of bioactive compound biosynthesis and environmental adaptation in licorice.

Licorice is an important medicinal herb worldwide, including three Chinese Pharmacopoeia species (Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. inflata, G. glabra), with bioactive compounds crucial for disease treatment and industrial applications. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis, diversification, and environmental adaptation of bioactive compounds in Glycyrrhiza species have long remained unclear. Herein, we assembled a gapless telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome of G. uralensis with resolved telomeres and centromeres and three significantly improved high-quality chromosome-level Glycyrrhiza genomes, alongside a variation map of 188 wild accessions. Population analysis revealed evolutionary divergence among species, with selection signals linked to medicinal compound pathways. We identified 4CL5 as a key gene for stress response and compound synthesis. GWAS validation highlighted the GiPHL1-Gi4CL5 module's role in licochalcone A accumulation and enhanced stress adaptation in G. inflata. This study provides the first T2T Glycyrrhiza genome and insights into medicinal compound biosynthesis and environmental adaptation.

Glycyrrhiza↗
PubMed1992

Anti-platelet action of isoliquiritigenin, an aldose reductase inhibitor in licorice.

The mechanism was studied by which isoliquiritigenin, a new aldose reductase inhibitor purified from licorice (Glycyrrhizae radix), inhibits platelet aggregation. This new agent significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of 40,000- and 20,000-dalton proteins, and inhibited the formation of 12 (S)-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and thromboxane B2. The inhibitory effect of isoliquiritigenin on platelet aggregation in vitro was comparable to that of aspirin. Our findings may indicate that isoliquiritigenin elicits an anti-platelet action by inhibiting not only cyclooxygenase but also lipoxygenase or peroxidase activity in platelets. Isoliquiritigenin also showed an anti-platelet action in vivo. Isoliquiritigenin appears to be the only aldose reductase inhibitor with a significant anti-platelet action. Since the hyperaggregability of platelets has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, isoliquiritigenin may offer a unique benefit as an aldose reductase inhibitor.

Aldehyde Reductase↗
PubMed1992

Inhibition of Streptomyces hydrogenans 3 alpha,20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by licorice-derived compounds and crystallization of an enzyme-cofactor-inhibitor complex.

Streptomyces hydrogenans 3 alpha,20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase reduces the C20 ketone on glucocorticoids and progestins. We find that two licorice-derived compounds, glycyrrhizic acid and carbenoxolone, inhibit this enzyme with microM Kis. Inhibition is competitive, indicating that these compounds are binding at or close to the catalytic site. Carbenoxolone's high aqueous solubility and affinity for 3 alpha,20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enabled us to prepare crystals of a carbenoxolone-NADH-enzyme ternary complex, which preliminary X-ray analysis indicates has a crystal structure that is significantly different from that of the 3 alpha,20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-NADH complex. A comparison of the tertiary structures of these two complexes should prove useful in understanding this enzyme's catalytic mechanism, as well as those of two homologous enzymes, mammalian 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase that also are inhibited by carbenoxolone.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2004

Licochalcone-A, a novel flavonoid isolated from licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), causes G2 and late-G1 arrests in androgen-independent PC-3 prostate cancer cells.

Licochalcone (LA) is a novel estrogenic flavonoid isolated from PC-SPES composition herb licorice root that was reported to show significant antitumor activity in various malignant human cell lines. To better understand its anti-CaP activities, we have investigated LA-elicited growth control and induction of apoptosis using androgen-independent p53-null PC-3 prostate cancer cells. LA induced modest level of apoptosis but had more pronounced effect on cell cycle progression arresting cells in G2/M, accompanied by suppression of cyclin B1 and cdc2. It also inhibited phosphorylation of Rb, specifically phosphorylation of S780 with no change of phosphorylation status of T821, decreased expression of transcription factor E2F concurrent with reduction of cyclin D1, down-regulation of CDKs 4 and 6, but increased cyclin E expression. These findings provide mechanistic explanation for LA activity and suggest that it may be considered as a chemopreventive agent and its anticancer properties should be further explored.

Androgens↗
PubMed2005

The licorice root derived isoflavan glabridin increases the function of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.

Glabridin, an isoflavan purified from licorice root, exhibits diverse biological activities, including estrogen-like activity. To investigate the bioactivities of glabridin, which act on bone metabolism, the effects of glabridin on the function of mouse osteoblastic cell line (MC3T3-E1) and the production of local factors in osteoblasts were studied. Glabridin (1-10microM) significantly increased the growth of MC3T3-E1 cells and caused a significant elevation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen content and osteocalcin secretion in the cells (P<0.05). The effect of glabridin (10microM) in increasing ALP activity and collagen content was completely prevented by the presence of 10(-6)M cycloheximide and 10(-6)M tamoxifen, suggesting that glabridin's effect results from a newly synthesized protein component and might be partly involved in estrogen action. Then, the effects of glabridin on the TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis and production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) in osteoblasts were examined. Treatment with glabridin (1-10microM) prevented apoptosis induced by TNF-alpha (10(-10)M) in osteoblastic cells. Moreover, glabridin (50microM) decreased the 10(-10)M TNF-alpha-induced production of PGE2 and NO in osteoblasts. Our data indicate that the enhancement of osteoblast function by glabridin may result in the prevention for osteoporosis and inflammatory bone diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Transcriptomic responses of Porphyrophora sophorae larvae during licorice root colonization reveal coordinated remodeling of translation, mitochondrial energy metabolism and defense-related genes.

BACKGROUND: Porphyrophora sophorae is a subterranean piercing-sucking scale insect that damages licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) roots, but the molecular responses associated with larval root colonization remain insufficiently defined. METHODS: We compared non-parasitic larvae (NP) and root-colonizing larvae (RC) using six RNA-seq libraries, de novo transcriptome assembly, DESeq2-based differential expression analysis, GO/KEGG enrichment, annotation-based candidate gene screening, and RT-qPCR validation of selected genes. RESULTS: Sequencing yielded 260.91 million clean reads, and de novo assembly produced 60,794 non-redundant transcripts. DESeq2 identified 703 FDR-significant DEGs, including 49 upregulated and 654 downregulated genes in RC larvae. Upregulated genes were mainly associated with translation- and ribosome-related processes, whereas downregulated genes were enriched in mitochondrial, oxidation-reduction, energy metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation-related functions. Annotation-based screening identified 75 FDR-significant candidate genes associated with chemosensation, defense-related responses, and energy metabolism, with mitochondrial energy metabolism-related genes forming the largest module. RT-qPCR validation based on the raw Ct data showed concordant expression directions for ten selected transcript targets. CONCLUSIONS: Root colonization in P. sophorae larvae was associated with coordinated transcriptional remodeling involving selective activation of translation-related processes, adjustment of mitochondrial energy metabolism, and changes in defense-related gene expression. These results provide candidate molecular targets for future functional studies of host contact, feeding establishment, and physiological adjustment in this subterranean scale insect.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Isolation and purification of inflacoumarin A and licochalcone A from licorice by high-speed counter-current chromatography.

High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) technique in semi-preparative scale has been applied to isolate and purify bioactive flavone compounds from the ethanol extract of Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat., a particular plant species of licorice. HSCCC separation was performed with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-chloroform-methanol-water (5:6:3:2, v/v) by eluting the lower mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.8 ml/min and a revolution speed of 800 rpm. Purification was performed with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-chloroform-methanol-water (1.5:6:3:2, v/v) by eluting the lower mobile phase at a flow-rate of 1.5 ml/min and a revolution speed of 800 rpm. Two major flavone peaks: inflacoumarin A and licochalcone A were collected and the respective yields of the peaks amount to 6 mg (8.6%, w/w) and 8 mg (11.4%, w/w) from 70 mg of the crude extract sample. The purities of inflacoumarin A and licochalcone A reached 99.6% and 99.1%, respectively, after a sequential purification run. The structures of inflacoumarin A and licochalcone A were positively confirmed by 1H NMR and 13C NMR, 1H-13C-COSY, UV, FT-IR and electron ionization MS analyses.

Chalcone↗
PubMed2006

Glabrol, an acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor from licorice roots.

Acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) esterifies free cholesterol in the liver and the intestine. It has relations with production of lipoproteins and accumulation of cholesteryl esters of the atheroma. Therefore, ACAT inhibitors may act as antihypercholesterolemic and antiatherosclerotic agents. One isoprenyl flavonoid was isolated from ethanol extract of licorice roots. On the basis of spectral evidences, the compound was identified as glabrol (1). Compound 1 inhibited rat liver microsomal ACAT activity with an IC(50) value of 24.6 microM and decreased cholesteryl ester formation with an IC(50) value of 26.0 microM in HepG2 cells. In addition, 1 showed a non-competitive type of inhibition against ACAT.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Estrogen-like activity of licorice root constituents: glabridin and glabrene, in vascular tissues in vitro and in vivo.

Post-menopausal women have higher incidence of heart diseases compared to pre-menopausal women, suggesting a protective role for estrogen. The recently Women's Health Initiative (WHI) randomized controlled trial concluded that the overall heart risk exceeded benefits from use of combined estrogen and progestin as hormone replacement therapy for an average of five years among healthy postmenopausal US women. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new agents with tissue-selective activity with no deleterious effects. In the present study, we tested the effects on vascular tissues in vitro and in vivo of two natural compounds derived from licorice root: glabridin, the major isoflavan, and glabrene, an isoflavene, both demonstrated estrogen-like activities. Similar to estradiol-17beta (E2), glabridin (gla) stimulated DNA synthesis in human endothelial cells (ECV-304; E304) and had a bi-phasic effect on proliferation of human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Raloxifene inhibited gla as well as E2 activities. In animal studies, both intact females or after ovariectomy, gla similar to E2 stimulated the specific activity of creatine kinase (CK) in aorta (Ao) and in left ventricle of the heart (Lv). Glabrene (glb), on the other hand, had only the stimulatory effect on DNA synthesis in vascular cells, with no inhibition by raloxifene, suggesting a different mechanism of action. To further elucidate the mechanism of action of glb, cells were pre-incubated with glb and then exposed to either E2 or to gla; the DNA stimulation at low doses was unchanged but there was abolishment of the inhibition of VSMC cell proliferation at high doses as well as inhibition of CK stimulation by both E2 and by gla. We conclude that glb behaved differently than E2 or gla, but similarly to raloxifene, being a partial agonist/antagonist of E2. Glabridin, on the other hand, demonstrated only estrogenic activity. Therefore, we suggest the use of glb with or without E2 as a new agent for modulation of vascular injury and atherogenesis for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in post-menopausal women.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Glycyrrhetinic acid, the active principle of licorice, can reduce the thickness of subcutaneous thigh fat through topical application.

Cortisol is involved in the distribution and deposition of fat, and its action is regulated by the activity of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Glycyrrhetinic acid, the active principle of licorice root, blocks 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, thus reducing the availability of cortisol at the level of adipocytes. We evaluated the effect of topical application of a cream containing glycyrrhetinic acid in the thickness of fat at the level of the thigh. Eighteen healthy women (age range 20-33 years) with normal BMI were randomly allocated to treatment, at the level of the dominant thigh, with a cream containing 2.5% glycyrrhetinic acid (n=9) or with a placebo cream containing the excipients alone (n=9). Before and after 1 month of treatment both the circumference and the thickness of the superficial fat layer of the thighs (by ultrasound analysis) were measured. The circumference and the thickness of the superficial fat layer were significantly reduced in comparison to the controlateral untreated thigh and to control subjects treated with the placebo cream. No changes were observed in blood pressure, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone or cortisol. The effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on the thickness of subcutaneous fat was likely related to a block of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 at the level of fat cells; therefore, glycyrrhetinic acid could be effectively used in the reduction of unwanted local fat accumulation.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1998

Identification of a cytochrome P450 cDNA encoding (2S)-flavanone 2-hydroxylase of licorice (Glycyrrhiza echinata L.; Fabaceae) which represents licodione synthase and flavone synthase II.

The microsome of insect cells expressing CYP Ge-5 (CYP93B1), a cytochrome P450 cDNA of licorice (Glycyrrhiza echinata L.), catalyzed the formation of [14C]licodione and [14C]2-hydroxynaringenin from (2S)-[14C]liquiritigenin and (2S)-[14C]naringenin, respectively. On acid treatment, the products were converted to 14C-labeled 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone and apigenin. Eriodictyol was also converted to luteolin by the reaction with the microsome of yeast expressing CYP93B1 and subsequent acid treatment. CYP93B1 was thus shown to encode (2S)-flavanone 2-hydroxylase, which has previously been designated to licodione synthase and flavone synthase II depending on the substrates employed.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Anti-Helicobacter pylori flavonoids from licorice extract.

Licorice is the most used crude drug in Kampo medicines (traditional Chinese medicines modified in Japan). The extract of the medicinal plant is also used as the basis of anti-ulcer medicines for treatment of peptic ulcer. Among the chemical constituents of the plant, glabridin and glabrene (components of Glycyrrhiza glabra), licochalcone A (G. inflata), licoricidin and licoisoflavone B (G. uralensis) exhibited inhibitory activity against the growth of Helicobacter pylori in vitro. These flavonoids also showed anti-H. pylori activity against a clarithromycin (CLAR) and amoxicillin (AMOX)-resistant strain. We also investigated the methanol extract of G. uralensis. From the extract, three new isoflavonoids (3-arylcoumarin, pterocarpan, and isoflavan) with a pyran ring, gancaonols A[bond]C, were isolated together with 15 known flavonoids. Among these compounds, vestitol, licoricone, 1-methoxyphaseollidin and gancaonol C exhibited anti-H. pylori activity against the CLAR and AMOX-resistant strain as well as four CLAR (AMOX)-sensitive strains. Glycyrin, formononetin, isolicoflavonol, glyasperin D, 6,8-diprenylorobol, gancaonin I, dihydrolicoisoflavone A, and gancaonol B possessed weaker anti-H. pylori activity. These compounds may be useful chemopreventive agents for peptic ulcer or gastric cancer in H. pylori-infected individuals.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2000

Minor flavonoids from licorice.

Three minor flavonoids, licofuranocoumarin, isotrifoliol and glisoflavanone, were isolated from licorice (underground part of Glycyrrhiza uralensis), and their structures with 3-arylcoumarin, coumestan and isoflavanone skeletons were respectively elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.

Coumarins↗
PubMed1994

Mechanism of inhibition of 3 alpha, 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by a licorice-derived steroidal inhibitor.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial 3 alpha, 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 alpha, 20 beta-HSD) reversibly oxidizes the 3 alpha and 20 beta hydroxyl groups of androstanes and pregnanes and uses nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as a cofactor. 3 alpha, 20 beta-HSD belongs to a family of short-chain dehydrogenases that has a highly conserved Tyr-X-X-X-Lys sequence. The family includes mammalian enzymes involved in hypertension, digestion, fertility and spermatogenesis. Several members of the enzyme family, including 3 alpha, 20 beta-HSD, are competitively inhibited by glycyrrhizic acid, a steroidal compound found in licorice, and its derivative, carbenoxolone, an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid. RESULTS: The three-dimensional structure of the enzyme-carbenoxolone complex has been determined and refined at 2.2 A resolution to a crystallographic R-factor of 19.4%. The hemisuccinate side chain of carbenoxolone makes a hydrogen bond with the hydroxyl group of the conserved residue Tyr152 and occupies the position of the nicotinamide ring of the cofactor. The occupancies of the inhibitor in four independent catalytic sites refine to 100%, 95%, 54% and 36%. CONCLUSIONS: The steroid binds at the catalytic site in a mode much like the previously proposed mode of binding of the substrate cortisone. No bound cofactor molecules were found. The varying occupancy of steroid molecules observed in the four catalytic sites is either due to packing differences or indicates a cooperative effect among the four sites. The observed binding accounts for the inhibition of 3 alpha, 20 beta-HSD.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1999

Effects of glycyrrhizin, an active component of licorice roots, on Candida albicans infection in thermally injured mice.

Due to the generation of burn-associated CD8+ CD11b+ TCR gamma/delta+ type 2 T cells (burn-associated type 2 T cells), the susceptibility of thermally injured mice to infection with C. albicans has been shown to be increased by up to 50-fold when compared with normal mice. Glycyrrhizin (GR), an active component of licorice roots, reduced the susceptibility of thermally injured mice to C. albicans infection to levels observed in normal mice. Thermally injured mice inoculated with CD4+ T cells from GR-treated mice were also resistant to C. albicans infection. The following demonstrated that susceptibility to fungal infection was similar in thermally injured mice and normal mice inoculated with T6S cells (a clone of burn-associated type 2 T cells). This susceptibility of T6S mice (normal mice inoculated with T6S cells) was reversible by (i) administration of GR, (ii) inoculation of CD4+ T cells from GR-treated mice, and (iii) injection of a mixture of MoAbs targeted against type 2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). After stimulation with anti-CD3 MoAb, splenic T cells from thermally injured and T6S mice, treated with GR or inoculated with CD4+ T cells from GR-treated mice, did not have type 2 cytokines in culture supernatants. They were present in splenic T cell cultures from thermally injured and T6S mice that were treated with saline or inoculated with naive T cells. These results suggest that GR, by inducing CD4+ T cells which suppress type 2 cytokines produced by burn-associated type 2 T cells, improves the resistance of thermally injured mice to C. albicans. An anti-type 2 T cell action of the CD4+ T cells derived from GR-treated mice was previously described.

Amphotericin B↗