Glabridin: A Promising Compound in Cosmetic Chemistry

Glabridin is yellowish-brown powder. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents such as propylene glycol. Glabridin effectively inhibits platelet activation, so it might become therapeutic agent for thromboembolic disorders. It is used as an ingredient in cosmetics and is listed in International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI).

Biological activity

Glabridin was isolated from the roots of G. glabra and its effects on cognitive functions and cholinesterase activity were investigated in mice by Cui et al. Glabridin (1, 2, and 4 mg/kg, P. O.) and piracetam (400 mg/kg, i. p.), a clinically used nootropic agent, were administered daily for three successive days to different groups of mice. The higher doses (2 and 4 mg/kg, P. O.) of glabridin and piracetam significantly antagonized the amnesia induced by scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg, I. P.) in both the EPM test and passive avoidance test. Furthermore, glabridin (2 and 4 mg/kg, P. O.) and metrifonate (50 mg/kg, I. P.), used as a standard drug, both remarkably reduced the brain cholinesterase activity in mice compared to the control group. The study suggested that glabridin appears to be a promising candidate for memory improvement and may have the potential to be used in the management of Alzheimer patients.^[1]

Uses

Glabridin, a major bioalkaloid extracted from licorice root, improves metabolic abnormalities (i.e., obesity and diabetes) and protects against CVDs and neuronal disorders. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have focused on glabridin’s effects on platelet activation. Therefore, we investigated these effects in humans and mice. Glabridin exhibited the highest inhibitory effects on collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation and moderate effects on arachidonic-acid-stimulated activation; however, no effects were observed for any other agonists (e.g., thrombin or U46619).^[2]

References

[1]Katiyar, C. Satyajyoti Kanjilal and A. Narwaria. “Brain and mental health in Ayurveda.”1900. 0.

[2]Chi-Li Chung.“Glabridin, a Bioactive Flavonoid from Licorice, Effectively Inhibits Platelet Activation in Humans and Mice.”International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23 19 (2022).

You may like