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Analgesic and Uterine Relaxant Effects of Isoliquiritigenin, a Flavone from Glycyrrhiza glabra
Author(s) -
Shi Yulu,
Wu Debin,
Sun Zhen,
Yang Jing,
Chai Hongyan,
Tang Li,
Guo Yue
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.3715
Subject(s) - isoliquiritigenin , glycyrrhiza , liquiritigenin , pharmacology , chemistry , uterine contraction , antipyretic , traditional medicine , flavonoid , nitric oxide , analgesic , medicine , uterus , endocrinology , biochemistry , alternative medicine , organic chemistry , pathology , antioxidant
Shaoyao‐gancao‐tang, a Chinese medicinal formula consisting of peony and licorice has been used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea for thousands of years. The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the analgesic and uterine relaxant effects of isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a flavonoid isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra (a type of licorice). In vitro , isoliquiritigenin caused concentration‐dependent inhibition of spontaneous contraction of isolated rat uterus and the contraction induced by various types of stimulants, such as acetylcholine (Ach, 10 µ m ), KCl (40 m m ) and oxytocin (1 mU/mL). The uterine contractile response to cumulative concentrations of CaCl 2 was blocked by 0.1 and 1 m m of isoliquiritigenin. The isoliquiritigenin‐induced relaxation was partly inhibited by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N ω ‐nitro‐ l ‐arginine methylester ( l ‐NAME, 100 µ m ) and the COX‐1/COX‐2 inhibitor indomethacin (10 µ m ). In vivo , isoliquiritigenin could cause a significant reduction in the acetic acid‐induced writhing response and hot‐plate test at the high dose. These results indicate that isoliquiritigenin, a flavonoid isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra , not only has a spasmolytic effect on uterine contraction, which is in relation to Ca 2+ channels, NOS and COX, but also an effective activity in reducing pain. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.