Glycyrrhiza glabra Boosts Stem Cell Resilience Against Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Full Length Research Article

Glycyrrhiza glabra Boosts Stem Cell Resilience Against Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Syed Usman Mujtaba1, Numan Fazal1,2, Ifrah Ishaq1, Farzana Latif1, Umar Sajjad1, Muhammad Faizan Tariq1, Noreen Latief1
*- Corresponding Author: Noreen Latief (Email: noreen.latief@cemb.edu.pk)
Authors' Affiliations

1. University of the Punjab, Lahore – Pakistan
2. University Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology, The University of Lahore-Pakistan
 [Date Received: 10/09/2023; Date Provisionally Published Online: 31/12/2023]

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Abstract

Background: Inflammation underlies many chronic diseases, driven by cytokine-induced release of reactive oxygen species that harm body cells. Current therapies often fall short in controlling disease progression. Thus, there is an urgent need for therapies that integrate stem cells with herbal medicine to combat inflammatory diseases.

Methods: This study assesses the impact of Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract combined with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) to confer resistance against oxidative stress. G. glabra exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Rat ADMSCs was subjected to oxidative stress with CoCl2 and treated with G. glabra root extract. Subsequently, cells were evaluated for cytotoxicity, proliferation, necrosis, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) release. Inflammatory biomarker expression was analyzed via RT-PCR.

Results: G. glabra treatment mitigated oxidative stress-induced damage to ADMSCs. CoCl2-exposed cells displayed reduced viability and proliferation, increased toxicity, and elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ALP. Treatment with G. glabra root extract downregulated the expression of inflammatory biomarkers p65, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13 and TNF-α in injured ADMSCs. Furthermore, Caspase 3 and interleukin-1β exhibited heightened expression in the CoCl2 stress groups, but G. glabra treatment attenuated their expression.

Conclusion: Glycyrrhiza glabra treatment effectively counteracts oxidative stress in vitro and holds promise for mitigating inflammation-related conditions. This study demonstrates that G. glabra treatment enhances cell viability and proliferation while reducing apoptosis and inflammation-induced cell damage in injured ADMSCs. Future investigations should explore the therapeutic potential of G. glabra in animal models