Identification of licocoumarone as an apoptosis-inducing component in licorice.
The 70% methanol soluble fraction from a licorice acetone extract was found to inhibit cell proliferation in human monoblastic leukemia U937 cells by inducing apoptosis. Separation by the methods including preparative HPLC provided us with an active compound, which was identified as licocoumarone. Several lines of evidence indicated that licocoumarone induced apoptosis in U937 cells. Thus, licocoumarone is suggested to be potentially useful as a natural anti-cancer agent.
Watanabe
Makoto
M
School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Japan.
Hayakawa
Sumio
S
Isemura
Mamoru
M
Kumazawa
Shigenori
S
Nakayama
Tsutomu
T
Mori
Chihiro
C
Kawakami
Toshioki
T
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots; D020298:U937 Cells
D001572:Benzofurans; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts