Bioactive Constituents of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Licorice): Discovery of the Effective Components of a Traditional Herbal Medicine.
Shuai Ji, Ziwei Li, Wei Song, Yongrui Wang, Wenfei Liang, Kai Li, Shunan Tang, Qi Wang, Xue Qiao, Demin Zhou, Siwang Yu, Min Ye
Author Information
Shuai Ji: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Ziwei Li: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Wei Song: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Yongrui Wang: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Wenfei Liang: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Kai Li: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Shunan Tang: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Qi Wang: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Xue Qiao: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Demin Zhou: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Siwang Yu: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Min Ye: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
Traditional herbal medicines have been reported to possess significant bioactivities. In this investigation, a combined strategy using both phytochemical and biological approaches was conducted to discern the effective components of licorice, a widely used herbal medicine. Altogether, 122 compounds (1-122), including six new structures (1-6), were isolated and identified from the roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice). These compounds were then screened using 11 cell- and enzyme-based bioassay methods, including Nrf2 activation, NO inhibition, NF-κB inhibition, H1N1 virus inhibition, cytotoxicity for cancer cells (HepG2, SW480, A549, MCF7), PTP1B inhibition, tyrosinase inhibition, and AChE inhibition. A number of bioactive compounds, particularly isoprenylated phenolics, were found for the first time. Echinatin (7), a potent Nrf2 activator, was selected as an example for further biological work. It attenuated CCl4-induced liver damage in mice (5 or 10 mg/kg, ip) and thus is responsible, at least in part, for the hepatoprotective activity of licorice.
