**Author details**

Among 10 Kampo medicines, Shosaikoto (SI = 34) showed the highest anti‐UV activity, fol‐ lowed by Hangesyashinto (SI > 28), Unseiin (SI > 23), Ninjinyoeito (SI = 23), and Saireito (SI > 19), whereas other four Kampo medicines were much less active (SI < 9.6) (**Table 2**). Among 25 plant extracts, Scutellaria root exhibited the highest anti‐UV activity (SI = 38), followed by Polyporus sclerotium (SI > 26), Gardenia fruit (SI > 23), Japanese Gentian (SI > 20), and Saposhnikovia root

**Figure 7.** (A) Correlation between anti‐UV activities measured in HSC‐2 cells and that in HaCaT cells. (B) The correlation

Alkaline extract of licorice roots showed greater anti‐HIV activity than the water extract, while the water extract, especially the flavonoid‐rich fraction, showed greater anti‐HSV activ‐ ity than the alkaline extract (**Table 1**), suggesting that water and alkaline extracts might show

It was unexpected that five polymethoxyflavonoids including tricin showed very low level of anti‐HSV activity (**Table 1**), since tricin has been reported to show a broad antiviral spectrum [17–20]. It remains to be investigated whether the combination of these compounds with acy‐

The present study also demonstrated that neoisoliquiritin apioside showed the highest anti‐ tumor activity. Isoliquiritin has been reported to inhibit granuloma angiogenesis and tube formation in vascular endothelial cells [22]. Further studies are required to elucidate the

vacuoles of HGF cells and aggravated the gingival inflammation (characterized by the enhanced

intracellular concentrations of amino acid, urea cycle, polyamine, *S*‐adenosylmethione and glutathione synthetic pathways) [23]. This finding recommends carful use of dental materials

whether glycyrrhiza extracts or their fractions can neutralize the aggravation effects of TiO<sup>2</sup>

production and COX‐1 and COX‐2 protein expression, and the reduction of

NPs for patients with gingivitis or periodontitis. It remains to be investigated

NPs) were incorporated into

NPs.

(SI > 20). Glycyrrhizin also exhibited potent anti‐UV activity (SI = 36) (**Table 2**) [16].

of anti‐UV activity and absorbance (optical density) measured at 253.7 nm (Kato et al., unpublished data).

**3. Conclusions**

prostaglandin E2

containing TiO2

different site of actions against these two viruses.

102 Biological Activities and Action Mechanisms of Licorice Ingredients

clovir [5] or ganciclovir [21] may increase viability of infected cells.

We have recently reported that titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2

mechanism by which this compound induces such high tumor specificity.

Hiroshi Sakagami1,\*, Takao Kato2 , Kunihiko Fukuchi3 , Taisei Kanamoto4 , Shigemi Terakubo4 , Hideki Nakashima4 , Hirokazu Ohno5 and Masaji Yamamoto<sup>5</sup>

\*Address all correspondence to: sakagami@dent.meikai.ac.jp

