title: Glycyrol induces apoptosis in human Jurkat T cell lymphocytes via the Fas-FasL/caspase-8 pathway.
abstract: Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Leguminosae) has long been used to treat inflammatory ailments, such as gastric ulcers, arthritis, and rheumatism. From this traditional herbal plant, glycyrol, a coumestan with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, was first isolated and synthesized to test its apoptosis-inducing properties in human Jurkat cells. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that glycyrol can arrest the cell cycle in S phase and subsequently induce apoptosis in both time- and dose-dependent manners. Consequently, it was shown that caspase-8 and -9 were involved in the activation of apoptosis after glycyrol treatment. Despite its known NF- κB inhibitory activity, glycyrol did not influence the prosurvival Bcl-2 and the proapoptotic Bax. Interestingly, glycyrol was revealed to enhance the Fas level independently from p53, which even slightly decreased. Thus, glycyrol acts in a similar manner as known cytostatic drugs and may have a potential as lead for the development of drugs for cancer treatment.
authors: Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Eun Myoung
authors: EM
authors: Shin
authors: Sanghee
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Irmgard
authors: I
authors: Merfort
authors: Yeong Shik
authors: YS
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C491901:FAS protein, human; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019014:fas Receptor; C531349:glycyrol; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9