Antistress Potential of Glycyrrhizin in Chronic Immobilization Stress
Govind Patidar* and Anis Shaikh

Institute of pharmacy, Vikram University, Ujjain, India.

Abstract: The word ‘stress’ is defined as “a state of affair involving demand on physical or mental energy.” Stress is a condition which can disturb the normal physiological and psychological functions of an individual. In medical parlance ‘stress’ is defined as a perturbation of the body’s homeostasis. This demand on mind-body occurs when it tries to cope with incessant changes in life. Extreme stress conditions, psychologists say, are detrimental to human health but in moderation stress is normal and, in many cases, proves useful. Stress, nonetheless, is synonymous with negative conditions. During stressful situations the energy requirement of the organism is increased resulting in enhance generation of free radicals that causes oxidation of nucleic acid and proteins. Free radical also damage biomembrane, reflected by increased lipid peroxidation, thereby compromising cell integrity and function. During this process, the ability of the body’s defense system to combat the oxidative stress may diminish due to reduced antioxidants. Stress also increases brain serotonin (5-HT) level. The ascending 5-HT neurons from raphe nuclei innervates hypothalamic and limbic sites and have an overall role in regulating secretions of Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) during stress. The current research concludes that Glycyrrhizin at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o. reversed the behavioral and biochemical changes in Chronic Immobilization Stressed mice. So we can predict that Glycyrrhizin, the active constituent of liquorice shows antistress potential.

Keywords: Adrenocorticotropic hormone; Eustress; Hypostress; Antistress activity

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