The synergistic anti-asthmatic effects of glycyrrhizin and salbutamol

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of glycyrrhizin (GL) combined with salbutamol (SA) as an anti-asthma therapy. Methods: Rat lung beta2-adrenergic receptor (β 2 -AR) mRNA level was measured by real-time RT PCR. Intracellular cAMP accumulation was evaluated with a reporter gene assay. An in vitro acetylcholine-induced guinea pig tracheal strip contraction model was used to test the relaxing effects of GL and SA. The anti-inflammatory effects of GL and SA were tested using tumor necrosis factor-α-induced NF-κB transcriptional activation reporter assay, I-κB Western blotting and interleukin-8 ELISA. An in vivo guinea pig asthma model was used to prove further the synergistic effect of GL and SA. Results: GL (0.3 µmol/L) increased mRNA levels of β 2 -AR in vivo and the accumulation of cAMP in vitro. The combination of GL and SA also resulted in significant complementary anti-inflammatory effects via inhibition of NF-κB activation, degradation of I-κB and production of interleukin-8. A significant synergistic effect of the combination was detected both in vitro and in vivo in a guinea pig mode. Conclusion:The results demonstrate that GL and SA have synergistic anti-asthmatic effects and offer the possibility of a therapeutic application of GL in combination with β 2 -AR agonists in the treatment of asthma.

Regulation of Th1/Th2 balance through OX40/OX40L signalling by glycyrrhizic acid in a murine model of asthma

“…GA also has protective role on β 2 adrenergic receptor (β 2 AR) agonist‐stimulated receptor internalization and cell apoptosis . The combination of GA and β 2 AR led to a coordinate anti‐inflammatory function through the suppression of NF‐κB activation . GA also exhibited a glucocorticoid‐like inhibitory effect on inflammation without affecting the serum cortisol level .…”

β2-Adrenergic receptors in immunity and inflammation: Stressing NF-κB

“…A large body of evidence suggests b 2 -AR triggering attenuates NF-jB via inhibition of IKK activity and/or upregulation of cellular IjBa levels (Farmer and Pugin, 2000;Gavrilyuk et al, 2001Gavrilyuk et al, , 2002Hu et al, 2012;Loop et al, 2004;Madrigal et al, 2006;Mortaz et al, 2008;Strell et al, 2009;Yang et al, 2010) (For details refer to Table 1). Here we will discuss in more detail a few studies in which a molecular mechanism was proposed.…”

pH-Sensitive Glycyrrhizin Based Vesicles for Nifedipine Delivery

“…[ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. GA also demonstrates the ability to enhance the activity of other drugs [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. In particular, it can reduce the toxicity, dose, and side effects of drugs and increase the therapeutic index [ 14 ].…”