Ethnopharmacological relevance: Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis) is one of the herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and serves as an envoy medicinal. Since G. uralensis plays a major role in the anti-hypertensive TCM formulae, we believe that G. uralensis might possess vasorelaxation activity.
Aim of the study: This study is designed to investigate the vasorelaxation effect of G. uralensis from various extracts and to study its pharmacology effect.
Materials and methods: The vasorelaxation effect of G. uralensis extracts were evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Sprague Dawley rats.
Results: Among these three extracts of G. uralensis, 50% ethanolic extract (EFG) showed the strongest vasorelaxation activity. EFG caused the relaxation of the aortic rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine either in the presence or absence of endothelium and pre-contracted with potassium chloride in endothelium-intact aortic ring. Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, methylene blue, or 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one inhibit the vasorelaxation effect of EFG in the presence of endothelium. On the other hand, in the presence of the potassium channel blockers (tetraethylammonium and barium chloride), the vasorelaxation effect of EFG was not affected, but glibenclamide and 4-aminopyridine did inhibit the vasorelaxation effect of EFG. With indomethacin, atropine and propranolol, the vasorelaxation effect by EFG was significantly reduced. EFG was also found to be effective in reducing Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum and the blocking of calcium channels.
Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that EFG is involved in the NO/sGC/cGMP pathway.
Keywords: Ca(2+) channels; Glycyrrhizae uralensis; K(+) channels; NO/sGC/cGMP pathway; Vasorelaxation.
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