Effect of Glycyrrhiza uralensis crude water extract on the expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase 2 gene during myogenesis
Afsha Fatima Qadri,
Sibhghatulla Shaikh,
Ye Chan Hwang,
Khurshid Ahmad,
Inho Choi,
Eun Ju Lee
Affiliations
Afsha Fatima Qadri
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea
Sibhghatulla Shaikh
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea; Research Institute of Cell Culture, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea
Ye Chan Hwang
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea
Khurshid Ahmad
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea; Research Institute of Cell Culture, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea
Inho Choi
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea; Research Institute of Cell Culture, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea; Corresponding author. Department of Medical Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea.
Eun Ju Lee
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea; Research Institute of Cell Culture, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea; Corresponding author. Research Institute of Cell Culture, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea.
Glycyrrhiza uralensis is a traditional herbal medicine with significant bioactivity. This study investigated the effect of G. uralensis crude water extract (GU-CWE) on nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) expression during myogenesis. GU-CWE treatment increased myoblast differentiation by downregulating NOS2 and upregulating myogenic regulatory factors (MYOD, MYOG, and MYH). Notably, this effect was supported by an observed decrease in NOS2 expression in the gastrocnemius tissues of mice treated with GU-CWE. In addition, GU-CWE treatment and NOS2 knockdown were associated with reductions in reactive oxygen species levels. We further elucidate the role of the NOS2 gene in myoblast differentiation, demonstrating that its role was expression dependent, being beneficial at low expression but detrimental at high expression. High NOS2 gene expression induced oxidative stress, whereas its low expression impaired myotube formation. These findings highlight that the modulation of NOS2 expression by G. uralensis can potentially be use for managing muscle wasting disorders.
