Anti-inflammatory effect of glycyrrhetinic acid in IL-1β-induced SW982 cells and adjuvant-induced arthritis

Influences of Glycyrrhetinic acid on expression of inflammatory factors in interleukin (IL)-1 ss induced SW982 cells and its anti-inflammatory effects were discussed in this study. MTT results showed that Glycyrrhetinic acid (<= 80 mu mol center dot L 1) almost has no toxicity on SW982 cells. The results of ELISA and real-time PCR showed that Glycyrrhetinic acid (10, 20 and 40 mu mol center dot L-1) can significantly inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors such as IL-6, IL-8 and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1). Western blot analysis showed that Glycyrrhetinic acid remarkably blocked the NF-kappa B signaling pathway in vitro. Molecule docking showed that Glycyrrhetinic acid could bind to the active site (NLS Polypeptide) of NF-kappa B p65. Furthermore, observation of rat foot swelling proved that Glycyrrhetinic acid had a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats in vivo. Collectively, all these findings suggested that Glycyrrhetinic acid might be a promising lead compound worthy of further pursuit as anti-inflammation agent.

Automated summary

This study discussed the effects of Glycyrrhetinic acid on the expression of inflammatory factors in IL-1β-induced SW982 cells and its anti-inflammatory effects. MTT results showed that Glycyrrhetinic acid (<= 80 mu mol center dot L 1) had low toxicity on SW982 cells. ELISA and real-time PCR results demonstrated that Glycyrrhetinic acid (10, 20 and 40 mu mol center dot L-1) significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors such as IL-6, IL-8, and MMP-1. Furthermore, Glycyrrhetinic acid exhibited therapeutic effects on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats in vivo. Overall, these findings suggest that Glycyrrhetinic acid has potential as an anti-inflammatory agent and should be further investigated.