Chemopreventive properties of the ethanol extract of chinese licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) root: induction of apoptosis and G1 cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.
Much of the interest on the chemopreventive properties of licorice has been focused on the plant genius Glycyrrhiza glabra. In this study the ethanol extract of Chinese licorice root, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis) was investigated for its estrogenic effect and the ability to inhibit cell proliferation in the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. The extract of the root of G. uralensis was fractionated in EtOH:H(2)O (80:20) (80% ethanol). The extract exhibited estrogenic effects similar to 17beta- estradiol (E2) and induced apoptosis at the same dose level (100 microg/ml) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, results were associated with up-regulation of tumor suppressor gene p53 and pro-apoptotic protein Bax. G. uralensis extract caused the up-regulation of p21(waf1/cip1) and down-regulation of cdk 2 and cyclin E and most significantly, induced G1 cell cycle arrest. This is the first study to show that the ethanolic extract of the root of G. uralensis has an estrogen-like activity and anti-cancer effects against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Whilst the use of phytoestrogens to protect against hormone-dependent cancers or as a 'natural' alternative to hormone replacement therapy remains controversial, the data in this paper support the suggestion that extracts of root of the Chinese licorice G. uralensis might be of importance in this debate.
Jo
Eun-Hye
EH
Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, South Korea.
Kim
Sung-Hoon
SH
Ra
Jeong-Chan
JC
Kim
Sung-Ran
SR
Cho
Sung-Dae
SD
Jung
Ji-Won
JW
Yang
Se-Ran
SR
Park
Joon-Suk
JS
Hwang
Jae-Woong
JW
Aruoma
Okezie I
OI
Kim
Tae-Yung
TY
Lee
Yong-Soon
YS
Kang
Kyung-Sun
KS
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D000431:Ethanol