Natural triterpenoid saponinl; HMGB1; anti-tumor; anti-diabetic

In vitro activity: Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG) prepared from glycyrrhizin dramatically protects AGS cells from H(2)O(2)-induced damage as measured by the integrity of actin cytoskeleton. AG also inhibits FeSO(4)-induced reactive oxygen radicals in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the role for AG as a free radical scavenger.

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Glycyrrhiza uralensis has a potential for preventing or ameliorating gastric mucosal ulceration. To understand the molecular mechanism about the medicinal effect of G. uralensis, we isolated four single compounds from G. uralensis and one related compound and screened for the cellular protective effect against H(2)O(2)-induced damage in gastric epithelial AGS cells. Interestingly, we found that Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG) prepared from glycyrrhizin dramatically protects AGS cells from H(2)O(2)-induced damage as measured by the integrity of actin cytoskeleton. AG also inhibited FeSO(4)-induced reactive oxygen radicals in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the role for AG as a free radical scavenger. To better understand the protective role of AG at the transcriptional level, we performed genome-wide expression profiling using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays, followed by validation using RT-PCR. Among the 33,096 genes that were screened in the microarray, 936 genes were found to be differentially expressed in a statistically significant manner in the presence or absence of H(2)O(2) and AG. Among the 936 genes, 51 genes were differentially expressed at least 3-fold in response to the H(2)O(2) treatment. AG blocked the expression of genes related to apoptotic cell death (GDF15, ATF3, TNFRSF10A, NALP1) or oxidative stress path-ways (HMOX1) which was elevated in response to H(2)O(2) treatment, suggesting a potential protective role for AG in oxidative stress-induced cell death. Collectively, current results demonstrate that AG is a novel antioxidant that could be effective for the treatment of gastric diseases related to the oxidative stress-induced mucosal damage. [1]

Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (28 mg/kg) leads to changes in the activity of some enzymes in the brain, the development of parenchymatous dystrophy of the liver which changed to acidophilic necrosis attended with signs of regeneration in mice and rats model. Ammonium glycyrrhizinate-loaded nonionic surfactant vesicles (NSVs) decreases edema and nociceptive responses when compared with Ammonium glycyrrhizinate alone and empty NSVs in mice model. Ammonium glycyrrhizinate up-regulates interleukin-10 (IL-10) level and down-regulates the tumor neurosis factor-α (TNF-α) level and inhibits the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-phosphodiesterase (cAMP-PDE) activity in the lung tissue of mice. Ammonium glycyrrhizinate -loaded non-ionic surfactant vesicles shows no toxicity, good skin tolerability and are able to improve the drug anti-inflammatory activity in mice. Ammonium glycyrrhizinate significantly decreases triglyceride, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels in rats. Ammonium glycyrrhizinate increases high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels increased in rats.

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A single parenteral and oral administration of Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG) in rat and mice experiments showed that the compound is related to practically nontoxic drugs. Its repeated administration (30 times) into the stomach in a maximum daily therapeutic dose (7 mg/kg) and in a four-fold dose (28 mg/kg) did not cause signs of intoxication, essential changes in the hematological and integral parameters, shifts in the activity of serum enzymes, morphological changes in the cell structures of the internal organs. Administration of the drug in a dose of 28 mg/kg for a second time led to changes in the activity of some enzymes in the brain, the development of parenchymatous dystrophy of the liver which changed to acidophilic necrosis attended with signs of regeneration. Under conditions of a subacute experiment the maximum daily therapeutic dose of ammonium glycyrrhizinate may be considered practically nontoxic. [2]

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NSVs showed favorable physicochemical properties for in vitro and in vivo administration. In addition, they demonstrated long-term stability based on Turbiscan Lab Expert analysis. The membrane fluidity of the NSVs was not affected by self-assembling of the surfactants into colloidal structures. Fluorescence anisotropy was found to be independent of the molar ratios of cholesteryl hemisuccinate and/or cholesterol during preparation of the NSVs. The anti-inflammatory Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG) drug showed no effect on the stability of the NSVs. In vivo experiments demonstrated that AG-loaded NSVs decreased edema and nociceptive responses when compared with AG alone and empty NSVs. In vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that pH sensitive and neutral NSVs show no statistical significant difference. Conclusion: NSVs were nontoxic and showed features favorable for potential administration in vivo. In addition, neutral NSVs showed signs of increased anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive responses when compared with Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG). [3]

Physicochemical stability in serum [3]
Physicochemical stability studies of the Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG)-loaded NSVs were carried out by evaluating their average size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential when stored at 4°C and 25°C for 90 days. Samples were analyzed at different time points (1, 30, 60, and 90 days) and their average size and zeta potential were measured as previously reported.

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The serum stability of the NSVs was further evaluated by coincubating Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG)-NSVs (250 μL) diluted in 2.25 mL of HEPES buffer (10 mM, pH 7.4) supplemented with (10% v/v) and without (0% v/v) fetal bovine serum. The percentage of Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG) leaked from the NSVs was measured 3 hours and 24 hours after incubation by dissolving the NSVs with isopropyl alcohol. The concentration of Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG) loaded into the NSVs was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as previously reported (Supplementary material).23

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Fluidity analysis [3]
Diphenylhexatriene (200 μM) was used to prepare fluorescently labeled NSVs, which were stabilized for 3 hours at room temperature before the experiments. The fluidity of the NSVs was assessed by measuring the fluorescence anisotropy of diphenylhexatriene, as previously reported.

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Drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro release studies [3]
Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG)-loaded NSVs were evaluated using HPLC as previously reported. Purified NSVs were disrupted using isopropyl alcohol (in a ratio of 1:1 v/v) and entrapment efficiency was quantified as reported in the Supplementary material. The in vitro release experiments were carried out using dialysis tubes (molecular weight cutoff 8,000 and 5.5 cm2 diffusing area) at 37°C in HEPES buffer (10 mM, pH 7.4). Free Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG) was used as the control. The Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG) concentration was measured using HPLC at different time points over 1–10 hours. The release profile of Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG) was evaluated as reported in the Supplementary material. The permeability coefficient of the niosomal bilayer (Pbl) was evaluated using a linear expression developed by Ho et al as previously reported (Supplementary material).

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In vitro cytotoxicity experiments [3]
Primary human dermal fibroblast cell culture and cytotoxicity of NSVs. Primary human dermal fibroblasts were isolated from the skin of consenting patients who had undergone abdominal reduction surgery.29 Briefly, skin slides pretreated with type IA collagenase and type IVS hyaluronidase at 37°C for 45 minutes were washed and seeded into tissue culture plates and further incubated using high-glucose Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium.30 The cell culture medium and skin slides were removed and primary human dermal fibroblasts were then incubated with fresh complete Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium until at ∼70% confluence. The cytotoxicity of the empty NSVs in primary human dermal fibroblasts was evaluated using Trypan blue dye exclusion (cell mortality) and MTT (cell viability) assays. Details about the in vitro procedures and the cytotoxicity of the NSVs are reported in the Supplementary material.

[1]. Exp Biol Med.2009;234(3):263-77;
[2]. Eksp Klin Farmakol.1997;60(2):65-7;
[3]. Int J Nanomedicine.2014;9:635-51.

Monoammonium glycyrrhizinate is an organic molecular entity.

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This study demonstrates that neutral or pH-sensitive NSVs can be used as nanotherapeutics for anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive therapy. AG-loaded NSVs showed suitable in vitro and in vivo physicochemical features for therapeutic application and are stable in biological fluids. Our results show that AG-loaded NSVs containing Tween 20/cholesterol improve the anti-inflammatory activity and antinociceptive effects of AG in comparison with the free drug. AG-loaded NSVs are nontoxic to primary human dermal fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo in a murine animal model, and could also be used as a suitable nanotherapeutic for preclinical studies. Further experiments are being developed using appropriate animal models to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity and antinociceptive efficacy of pH-sensitive NSVs in vivo. [3]

C42H62O16.NH3

839.96

839.43

1407-03-0

1405-86-3 (Glycyrrhizic acid); Ammonium glycyrrhizinate;53956-04-0;Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate;68797-35-3

62074

White to off-white solid powder

971.4ºC at 760 mmHg

288.1ºC

0mmHg at 25°C

2.569

9

17

7

59

1730

19

N.OC([C@H]1O[C@@H](O[C@@H]2[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](C(=O)O)O[C@@H]2O[C@H]2CC[C@@]3([C@H]4C(=O)C=C5[C@@H]6C[C@@](C)(C(=O)O)CC[C@@]6(CC[C@@]5(C)[C@]4(C)CC[C@H]3C2(C)C)C)C)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O)=O

ILRKKHJEINIICQ-OOFFSTKBSA-N

InChI=1S/C42H62O16.H3N/c1-37(2)21-8-11-42(7)31(20(43)16-18-19-17-39(4,36(53)54)13-12-38(19,3)14-15-41(18,42)6)40(21,5)10-9-22(37)55-35-30(26(47)25(46)29(57-35)33(51)52)58-34-27(48)23(44)24(45)28(56-34)32(49)50;/h16,19,21-31,34-35,44-48H,8-15,17H2,1-7H3,(H,49,50)(H,51,52)(H,53,54);1H3/t19-,21-,22-,23-,24-,25-,26-,27+,28-,29-,30+,31+,34-,35-,38+,39-,40-,41+,42+;/m0./s1

(2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6S)-2-[[(3S,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aS,11S,12aR,14aR,14bS)-11-carboxy-4,4,6a,6b,8a,11,14b-heptamethyl-14-oxo-2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14a-dodecahydro-1H-picen-3-yl]oxy]-6-carboxy-4,5-dihydroxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid;azane

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

Note: Listed below are some common formulations that may be used to formulate products with low water solubility (e.g. < 1 mg/mL), you may test these formulations using a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples.

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Injection Formulation 1: DMSO : Tween 80： Saline = 10 : 5 : 85 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO stock solution → 50 μL Tween 80 → 850 μL Saline)
*Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH ₂ O to obtain a clear solution.
Injection Formulation 2: DMSO : PEG300 ：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 3: DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL Corn oil)
Example: Take the Injection Formulation 3 (DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90) as an example, if 1 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can take 100 μL 25 mg/mL DMSO stock solution and add to 900 μL corn oil, mix well to obtain a clear or suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Injection Formulation 4: DMSO : 20% SBE-β-CD in saline = 10 : 90 [i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL (20% SBE-β-CD in saline)]
*Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution.
Injection Formulation 5: 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin : Saline = 50 : 50 (i.e. 500 μL 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin → 500 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 6: DMSO : PEG300 : castor oil : Saline = 5 : 10 : 20 : 65 (i.e. 50 μL DMSO → 100 μLPEG300 → 200 μL castor oil → 650 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 7: Ethanol : Cremophor : Saline = 10： 10 : 80 (i.e. 100 μL Ethanol → 100 μL Cremophor → 800 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 8: Dissolve in Cremophor/Ethanol (50 : 50), then diluted by Saline
Injection Formulation 9: EtOH : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 900 μL Corn oil)
Injection Formulation 10: EtOH : PEG300：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)

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Oral Formulation 1: Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na (carboxymethylcellulose sodium)
Oral Formulation 2: Suspend in 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Example: Take the Oral Formulation 1 (Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na) as an example, if 100 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can first prepare 0.5% CMC Na solution by measuring 0.5 g CMC Na and dissolve it in 100 mL ddH2O to obtain a clear solution; then add 250 mg of the product to 100 mL 0.5% CMC Na solution, to make the suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Oral Formulation 3: Dissolved in PEG400
Oral Formulation 4: Suspend in 0.2% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 5: Dissolve in 0.25% Tween 80 and 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 6: Mixing with food powders

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Note: Please be aware that the above formulations are for reference only. InvivoChem strongly recommends customers to read literature methods/protocols carefully before determining which formulation you should use for in vivo studies, as different compounds have different solubility properties and have to be formulated differently.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)