title: Effects of the licorice extract against tumor growth and cisplatin-induced toxicity in a mouse xenograft model of colon cancer.
abstract: Cisplatin is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents and plays a major role in the treatment of a variety of human solid tumors. However, its toxicity limits the clinical use. Recently, the administration of antioxidants has been suggested to protect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The present study was designed to estimate the antitumor activity of the licorice extract alone and in combination with cisplatin, and its protective potential against cisplatin-induced toxicity in a mouse xenograft model. The administration of the licorice extract significantly inhibited tumor growth in BALB/C mice inoculated with CT-26 colon cancer cells. The combination of the licorice extract and cisplatin diminished the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin but promoted considerably antitumor activity of the licorice extract. In mice with cisplatin treatment for 15 d, the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine remarkably were increased by kidney damage, and the serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were elevated by liver damage. The administration of the licorice extract plus cisplatin recovered these functional indices in the kidney and liver to almost the control levels. In addition, the administration of the licorice extract significantly reduced the cisplatin-induced oxidative stress. Taken together, the administration of the licorice extract inhibits the growth of mouse colon carcinoma without any adverse effects, and reduces the cisplatin-induced toxicity. Therefore, the licorice extract may be a candidate for an anticancer and chemopreventive agent. However, cancer patients with cisplatin therapy should avoid the supplementation of the licorice extract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Oral Cancer Research Institute, Oral Science Research Institute and Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, 134 Shinchon-Dong, Seodaemoon-ku, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Ki
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Kyun
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soon Sung
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Jung Han Yoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Won Yoon
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002945:Cisplatin