# Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Novel _Glycyrrhiza_ Variety Wongam In Vivo and In Vitro
## 1 Introduction  
Licorice, the common name of the _Glycyrrhiza_ species, is widely used as a natural sweetener and in cosmetics and herbal medicine. Although licorice is an essential herbal medicine in Korea, it is mostly imported. However, there are urgent problems related to the supply instability caused by the serious desertification of Central Asia, the consequent depletion of natural resources, and agricultural problems such as low productivity. To solve these problems, a novel _Glycyrrhiza_ variety named Wongam (_Glycyrrhiza korshinskiyi_ Grig.) was developed by the Korea Rural Development Administration. Wongam is a hybrid of _G. glabra_ and _G. uralensis_, which improves the defects of the original licorice strains, such as their low yield and insufficient contents of the main components. Our research group has been investigating the properties, homogeneity, and pharmacological effects of Wongam with registered _Glycyrrhiza_ species in official compendia, and has reported on the safety of Wongam in terms of general toxicity [1], genotoxicity [2], and its antiulercative colitis activity [3] in order to extend the utilization of the novel _Glycyrrhiza_ variety. Licorice has beenextensively used to treat coughs, gastritis, peptic ulcers, respiratory infections, and arthritis for many centuries [4]. Many studies have shown that the original _Glycyrrhizia_ species and their components have a number of pharmacological effects, including antiallergic [5], anti-inflammatory [6], antiashmatic [7], antiviral [8], antitumor [9], and antidepressant activities [10]. To utilize Wongam as a medicinal plant with the original _Glycyrrhizia_ species, the efficacy of original _Glycyrrhizia_ species compared with Wongam should be investigated. In this study, we focused on the role of Wongam in allergic inflammatory responses. An allergic response is a hypersensitive immune reaction that occurs in response to an allergen or antigen. Approximately 10-40% of each country's population is affected by allergies, with a significant annual increase in allergy patients [11]. A number of reports have highlighted elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in patients suffering from allergies [12]. Mast cells are well recognized as being essential in the pathogenesis of allergic responses and inflammation. Through the high-affinity IgE receptor (Fc\(\varepsilon\)RI) binding, IgE mediates mast cell activation, leading to degranulation and release of biologically active products, such as histamine and tryptage [13]. T helper (Th) 2 cells, upon stimulation by antigens, produce the prototypical type 2 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, which are required for B-cell activation, IgE production, and switching to mast cell activation [14]. Following aggregation of Fc\(\varepsilon\)RI, cell surface antigen CD63 and CD203c expression is upregulated, resulting in their overexpression on basophils and mast cells, implicating them in cell activation and some allergic diseases [15; 16]. Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, is a potentially life-threatening, rapidly progressing systemic hypersensitivity reaction, which often follows exposure to small amounts of allergens, including insect venom, foods, and medications. IgE antibodies, effector mast cells, basophils, the mediator histamine, and leukotrienes are responsible for most anaphylactic events. However, anaphylaxis also induces changes in other mediators, including tryptage, prostaglandamins, cytokines, and chemokines [17]. We hypothesized that the novel _Glycyrrhizia_ variety Wongam would exert antiallergic effects because of a single _Glycyrrhizia_ species (such as _G. glabra_ and _G. uralensis_) and because its components have well-known effects against allergies. These promising effects motivated us to explore the mechanisms of action of Wongam as an antiallergic agent without adverse effects. This is the first study aiming to investigate the antiallergic effects of Wongam extract (WG) in vivo and in vitro.