Suppressive effects of glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives on tachykinin receptor activation and hyperalgesia

J Pharmacol Sci. 2011;117(3):180-8. doi: 10.1254/jphs.11116fp. Epub 2011 Oct 28.

Abstract

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), an aglycone of glycyrrhizin, isolated from the licorice root (Glycyrrhizia), and its semi-synthetic derivatives have a wide range of pharmacological effects. To investigate whether GA derivatives may be used as a new class of analgesics, we examined the effects of these compounds on human tachykinin receptors expressed in CHO-K1 cells. Among the GA derivatives examined, the disodium salt of olean-11,13(18)-dien-3β,30-O-dihemiphthalate inhibited the mobilization of [Ca(2+)](i) induced by substance P, neurokinin A, and neurokinin B in CHO-K1 cells expressing the human NK(1), NK(2), and NK(3) tachykinin receptors, respectively. In an inflammatory pain model, Compound 5 suppressed the capsaicin-induced flinching behavior in a dose-dependent manner. Compound 5 was also effective in suppressing pain-related behaviors in the late phase of the formalin test and reducing thermal hyperalgesia in the neuropathic pain state caused by sciatic nerve injury. Collectively, Compound 5 may be an analgesic candidate via tachykinin receptor antagonism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Capsaicin
  • Cricetinae
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Formaldehyde
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Humans
  • Hyperalgesia / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Ligation
  • Male
  • Neuralgia / drug therapy
  • Neuralgia / etiology
  • Neurokinin A / pharmacology
  • Neurokinin B / pharmacology
  • Pain / chemically induced
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Tachykinin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Sciatic Nerve / surgery
  • Substance P / pharmacology

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Receptors, Tachykinin
  • Formaldehyde
  • Substance P
  • Neurokinin A
  • Neurokinin B
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid
  • Capsaicin
  • Calcium