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. 2022 May 2;27(2):163–170. doi: 10.1007/s12257-021-0198-7

Formulation of Glycyrrhizic Acid-based Nanocomplexes for Enhanced Anti-cancer and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Curcumin

Jihyeon Song 1,#, Jun Yeong Kim 1,#, Gayeon You 1, Yoon Young Kang 1, Jiwon Yang 1, Hyejung Mok 1,✉
PMCID: PMC9059693  PMID: 35530367

Abstract

In this study, nanocomplexes composed of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) derived from the root of the licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) were formulated for the delivery of curcumin (CUR). Sonication of amphiphilic GA solution with hydrophobic CUR resulted in the production of nanosized complexes with a size of 164.8 ± 51.7 nm, which greatly enhanced the solubility of CUR in aqueous solution. A majority of the CURs were released from these GA/ CUR nanocomplexes within 12 h. GA/CUR nanocomplexes exhibited excellent intracellular uptake in human breast cancer cells (Michigan cancer foundation-7/multi-drug resistant cells), indicating enhanced anti-cancer effects compared to that of free CUR. In addition, GA/CUR nanocomplexes demonstrated high intracellular uptake into macrophages (RAW264.7 cells), consequently reducing the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α. Furthermore, GA/CUR nanocomplexes successfully reduced the levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and splenomegaly in a rheumatoid arthritis model.

Keywords: glycyrrhizic acid, curcumin, nanocomplexes, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant (NRF-2020R1A2B5B 01001677) from the National Research Foundation funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Korea.

Ethical Statements

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Neither ethical approval nor informed consent was required for this study.

Footnotes

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Jihyeon Song and Jun Yeong Kim contributed equally to this work.

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