Anti-inflammatory efficacy of Licochalcone A: correlation of clinical potency and in vitro effects.

Abstract

Licochalcone A (LicA), a major phenolic constituent of the licorice species Glycyrrhiza inflata, has recently been reported to have anti-inflammatory as well as anti-microbial effects. These anti-inflammatory properties might be exploited for topical applications of LicA. We conducted prospective randomized vehicle-controlled clinical trials to assess the anti-irritative efficacy of cosmetic formulations containing LicA in a post-shaving skin irritation model and on UV-induced erythema formation. The clinical trials were accompanied by a series of in vitro experiments to characterize anti-inflammatory properties of LicA on several dermatologically relevant cell types. Topical LicA causes a highly significant reduction in erythema relative to the vehicle control in both the shave- and UV-induced erythema tests, demonstrating the anti-irritative properties of LicA. Furthermore, LicA is a potent inhibitor of pro-inflammatory in vitro responses, including N-formyl-MET-LEU-PHE (fMLP)- or zymosan-induced oxidative burst of granulocytes, UVB-induced PGE(2) release by keratinocytes, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced PGE(2) release by adult dermal fibroblasts, fMLP-induced LTB(4) release by granulocytes, and LPS-induced IL-6/TNF-alpha secretion by monocyte-derived dendritic cells. The reported data suggest therapeutic skin care benefits from LicA when applied to sensitive or irritated skin.

• Authors: Ludger Kolbe, Jeannine Immeyer, Jan Batzer, Ursula Wensorra, Karen tom Dieck, Claudia Mundt, Rainer Wolber, Franz Stäb, Uwe Schönrock, Roger I Ceilley, Horst Wenck
• Journal: Archives of dermatological research (Arch Dermatol Res) Vol. 298 Issue 1 Pg. 23-30 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 0340-3696 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 16552540 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Chalcones
• Interleukin-6
• Plant Extracts
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Leukotriene B4
• Zymosan
• licochalcone A
• Dinoprostone

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adult
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Cells, Cultured
• Chalcones (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Dinoprostone (metabolism)
• Erythema (drug therapy, etiology, pathology)
• Granulocytes (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (metabolism)
• Keratinocytes (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Leukotriene B4 (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Plant Extracts (therapeutic use)
• Prospective Studies
• Respiratory Burst (drug effects)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)
• Ultraviolet Rays (adverse effects)
• Zymosan (pharmacology)