Traditional and scientific evidence attribute numerous bioactivities of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.) in aging-related disorders. In this state-of-art review, an extensive search in several databases was conducted to collect all relevant literature and comprehensively analyze Licorice's pharmacological attributes, neuroprotective properties, safety, and its mechanistic role in treating various neurological conditions. Network pharmacology was employed for the first time exploring the mechanistic role of Licorice in neurological disorders. Its neuroprotective role is attributed to phytoconstituents, including liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritigenin, glabridin, 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid, quercetin, isoliquiritigenin, paratocarpin B, glycyglabrone, and hispaglabridin B, as evident from in vitro and in vivo studies. Network pharmacology analysis reveals that these compounds protect against long-term depression, aging-associated diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and other addictions through interactions with cholinergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic proteins, validated in animal studies only. Future clinical trials are warranted as Licorice administration has a limiting factor of mild hypertension and hypokalemia. Hopefully, scientific updates on Licorice will propagate a paradigm shift in medicine, research propagation, and development of the central nervous system phytopharmaceuticals.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) species have been widely used as a traditional medicine and a natural sweetener in foods. The 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA) is a bioactive compound in licorice that exhibits potential anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial activities. Many synthesized derivatives of 18β-GA have been reported to be cytotoxic and suggested for the treatment of malignant diseases. In this study, we explored the possible pharmacological roles of an 18β-GA derivative in skin biology using primary human dermal fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes as cell models. We found that this 18β-GA derivative did not cause cell death, but significantly enhanced the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes. A scratch wound healing assay revealed that the 18β-GA derivative promoted the migration of fibroblasts. Due to the important role of aquaporin-3 in cell migration and proliferation, we also investigated the expression of aquaporin-3 and found this compound up-regulated the expression of aquaporin-3 in dermal fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes. In dermal fibroblasts, the 18β-GA derivative induced the phosphorylation of Akt, ERK, and p38. The inhibitor of Akt predominantly suppressed the 18β-GA derivative-induced expression of aquaporin-3. Collectively, this compound had a positive effect on the proliferation, migration, and aquaporin-3 expression of skin cells, implying its potential role in the treatment of skin diseases characterized by impaired wound healing or dermal defects.

Rotaviruses are the single most important cause of severe diarrhea in young children worldwide. The developments of specific, potent and accessible antiviral treatments that restrain rotavirus infection remain important to control rotavirus disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by inflammation of joints with cartilage and bone destruction leading to progressive disability. While the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known and the disease cannot be cured, conventional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologicals are effective treatments for many patients. However, new therapies are needed in order to achieve better relief from rheumatoid arthritis symptoms than currently possible and to fully prevent joint damage. 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid is not only used frequently in traditional Chinese medicine, but has been reported to target some of the inflammatory mediators involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, it has been reported that liquorice, which contains high levels of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid, reduces inflammation and articular damage in collagen induced arthritis. Therefore, we studied the effects of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid in a Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) dependent mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis.

18ß-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18ßGA) is a major bioactive component of liquorice with known activity. In this study, we found that both 18ßGA and its derivative glycyrrhetinic acid-30-piperazine (PGA), have potent antimycobacterial properties against the drug-susceptible and drug-resistant Mycobacterium bovis. More importantly, they exhibited synergistic effects with the first-line drugs isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF) and streptomycin (SM) against clinical M. bovis isolates, including drug-resistant strains. In combination with a subinhibitory concentration of 18ßGA, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the anti-tuberculosis agents decreased, ranging from 4- to 16-, 4- to 8- and 4- to 8-fold for INH (fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) 0.125-0.375), RIF (FICI 0.118-0.281) and SM (FICI 0.094-0.275), respectively. In the presence of PGA, MICs for the first-line agents resulted in a 4-16-fold decrease for INH (FICI 0.094-0.266, RIF (FICI 0.114-0.313) and SM (FICI 0.094-0.281). Additionally, the MICs of 18ßGA or PGA alone showed significant decreases ranging from 8- to 16-, 8- to 64- and 8- to 128-fold in the presence of INH, RIF and SM, respectively. These findings indicate that 18ßGA and its derivatives might serve as potential therapeutic compounds for future antimycobacterial drug development.