Anti-Inflammatory Agent

Abstract

An anti-inflammatory agent which comprises an oil-soluble licorice extract obtained by extraction treatment of at least either a leguminous plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza or a water extraction residue of a leguminous plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza with an organic solvent, and has at least one effect selected from an inhibitory effect on hyaluronidase activity, an inhibitory effect on hexosaminidase release (i.e., an inhibitory effect on histamine release), an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation and an inhibitory effect on phospholipase A 2 activity.

1 . An anti-inflammatory agent comprising an oil-soluble licorice extract. 
     
     
         2 . The anti-inflammatory agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil-soluble licorice extract is prepared by subjecting at least one of a leguminous plant of the genus  Glycyrrhiza  and a water extraction residue of a leguminous plant of the genus  Glycyrrhiza  to an extraction treatment. 
     
     
         3 . The anti-inflammatory agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-inflammatory agent is prepared by subjecting at least one of roots, rhizomes, leaves, and stems of a leguminous plant of the genus  Glycyrrhiza,  and water extraction residues thereof to an extraction treatment with an organic solvent. 
     
     
         4 . The anti-inflammatory agent according to  claim 3 , wherein the organic solvent is at least one selected from ethanol, hydrous ethanol, and ethyl acetate. 
     
     
         5 . The anti-inflammatory agent according to  claim 2 , wherein the leguminous plant of the genus  Glycyrrhiza  is at least one selected from  Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza inflata, Glycyrrhiza araleasis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis,  and  Glycyrrhiza echinata.    
     
     
         6 . The anti-inflammatory agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil-soluble licorice extract comprises at least one flavonoid of glabridin and licochalcone A. 
     
     
         7 . The anti-inflammatory agent according to  claim 6 , wherein a total content of the at least one flavonoid of glabridin and licochalcone A in the oil-soluble licorice extract is 1% by mass to 80% by mass based on dry solid content. 
     
     
         8 . The anti-inflammatory agent according to  claim 5 , wherein a content of glabridin in an oil-soluble licorice extract of  Glycyrrhiza glabra  is 1% by mass or more based on dry solid content. 
     
     
         9 . The anti-inflammatory agent according to  claim 5 , wherein a content of licochalcone A in an oil-soluble licorice extract of  Glycyrrhiza echinata  is 1% by mass or more based on dry solid content. 
     
     
         10 . The anti-inflammatory agent according to  claim 5 , wherein a content of licochalcone A in an oil-soluble licorice extract of  Glycyrrhiza inflata  is 1% by mass or more based on dry solid content. 
     
     
         11 . The anti-inflammatory agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil-soluble licorice extract has at least one effect selected from an inhibitory effect on hyaluronidase activity, an inhibitory effect on hexosaminidase release, an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation, and an inhibitory effect on phospholipase A 2  activity. 
     
     
         12 . The anti-inflammatory agent according to  claim 1 , which is used as an external preparation for skin.