Long-Lasting Anti-Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Effects of Acute Ammonium Glycyrrhizinate Administration: Pharmacological, Biochemical, and Docking Studies
Francesco Maione,
Paola Minosi,
Amalia Di Giannuario,
Federica Raucci,
Maria Giovanna Chini,
Simona De Vita,
Giuseppe Bifulco,
Nicola Mascolo,
Stefano Pieretti
Affiliations
Francesco Maione
Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Paola Minosi
National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Amalia Di Giannuario
National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Federica Raucci
Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Maria Giovanna Chini
Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy
Simona De Vita
Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy
Giuseppe Bifulco
Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy
Nicola Mascolo
Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Stefano Pieretti
National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
The object of the study was to estimate the long-lasting effects induced by ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG) after a single administration in mice using animal models of pain and inflammation together with biochemical and docking studies. A single intraperitoneal injection of AG was able to produce anti-inflammatory effects in zymosan-induced paw edema and peritonitis. Moreover, in several animal models of pain, such as the writhing test, the formalin test, and hyperalgesia induced by zymosan, AG administered 24 h before the tests was able to induce a strong antinociceptive effect. Molecular docking studies revealed that AG possesses higher affinity for microsomal prostaglandin E synthase type-2 compared to type-1, whereas it seems to locate better in the binding pocket of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 compared to COX-1. These results demonstrated that AG induced anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects until 24−48 h after a single administration thanks to its ability to bind the COX/mPGEs pathway. Taken together, all these findings highlight the potential use of AG for clinical treatment of pain and/or inflammatory-related diseases.
