Liquiritigenin induces mitochondria‐mediated apoptosis via cytochrome c release and caspases activation in heLa Cells

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that many flavonoids possess a potent and broad spectrum of antitumor activity. Liquiritigenin is a flavanone extracted from Glycyrrhizae. This study investigated the effects of liquiritigenin on cell viability and apoptosis induction in human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. The results show that liquiritigenin significantly suppressed cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HeLa cells. In addition, liquiritigenin promoted apoptosis in HeLa cells, evidenced by apoptotic morphological changes and Annexin-V binding. The apoptosis induction with liquiritigenin is associated with the up-regulation of p53 and Bax, along with down-regulation of Bcl-2 and survivin. Finally, examination of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis revealed that cytochrome c is released from mitochondria to cytosol, associated with the activation of caspase-9 and -3, and the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Overall, the results indicate that liquiritigenin induces apoptosis in part via the mitochondrial pathway, which is associated with p53 up-regulation, release of cytochrome c and elevated activity of caspase-9 and -3 in HeLa cells.

Liquiritigenin exhibits antitumour action in pituitary adenoma cells via Ras/ERKs and ROS-dependent mitochondrial signalling pathways

“…While our previous studies have demonstrated the effects of PGD in alleviating hyperPRL in patients and animal model,this further showed that, as a major bioactive components of PGD, LQ is significantly effective in inhibiting pituitary tumour growth; this antitumour effect appears to be associated with its induction of apoptotic death via Ras/ERKs and ROS‐dependent mitochondria pathways. These results are consistent with previous findings of LQ in various human tumour cells …”

Liquiritigenin Induces Tumor Cell Death through Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase- (MPAKs-) Mediated Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

“…Data from our group and others have already demonstrated the cytotoxic effects of LQ in pituitary adenoma cells, Hela cells [30], SMMC-7721 cells [10], human lung fibroblasts, and peripheral lymphocytes [9]. In our present study, the potential antitumor effect on hepatocellular carcinoma was investigated in in vitro and in vivo models.…”

A Potential Daidzein Derivative Enhances Cytotoxicity of Epirubicin on Human Colon Adenocarcinoma Caco-2 Cells

“…Cells (2 × 10 5 cells/well) were harvested after treatment with 0.3 μg/mL of Epi and/or 25 μM of 8HD for 48 h. Fifty microlitres of the cell suspension was then mixed with 50 μL of caspase-3, -8, and -9 reagents containing the corresponding luminogenic substrate of Ac-DEVD-pNA, Ac-LETD-pNA, and Ac-LEHD-pNA, respectively, at room temperature for 30 min. Released aminoluciferin luminescence levels were detected using a luminometer (MiniLumat LB9506; Berthold, Bad Wildbad, Germany) [48]. …”