An assay evaluated the supportive role of glabridin in skin wellness when applied topically. The study focused on guinea pig skin subjected to UVB, treated with a 0.5% glabridin solution. Observations suggested that glabridin contributed to a reduction in skin discomfort following UVB exposure. Skin redness, measured by erythema, was quantified using a* values from a Lab* colorimeter, where a* values rise with increased erythema. Results indicated that skin treated with glabridin showed lower a* values compared to untreated control, reflecting a supportive effect on skin comfort
An assay was performed to determine the inhibitory effect of glabridin on cyclooxygenase activity. Cyclooxygenase is an enzyme that metabolizes arachidonic acid into prostaglandins, which are mediators that initiate the inflammatory cascade reaction. It was observed that addition of 6.25 µg/ml glabridin inhibited the cyclooxygenase activity with respect to the control. The positive control in this experiment was indomethacin, a known cyclooxygenase inhibitor It is believed that glabridin has the anti-inflammatory effect through the arachidonic acid cascade by inhibition cyclooxygenase.