title: Antioxidative and anticancer properties of Licochalcone A from licorice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Licochalcone A (LCA) is a characteristic chalcone that is found in licorice, which is a traditional medicinal plant. In traditional medicine, LCA possesses many potential biological activities, including anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the antioxidant activity of LCA and, on this basis, to investigate the role of its anticancer activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  To validate the antioxidant activity of LCA, the proteins SOD, CAT and GPx1 were analyzed using western blotting and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays. Oxidative free radicals are associated with cancer cells. Therefore, the anticancer activity of LCA was also evaluated. To assess the anticancer activity, cell viability assays were performed and apoptosis was evaluated. In addition, MAPK-related proteins were analyzed using western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental data showed that the EC50of LCA is 58.79±0.05μg/mL and 46.29±0.05μg/mL under the two conditions tested, with or without PBS. In addition, LCA at a concentration of approximately 2-8μg/mL can induce the expression of SOD, CAT and GPx1 proteins. Further, LCA inhibits the growth of HepG2 cells through cell proliferation arrest and the subsequent induction of apoptosis, and LCA attenuated the p38/JNK/ERK signaling pathway in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that LCA suppresses the oxidation of cells and markedly inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells. These findings confirm the traditional use of LCA in folk medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 130062, China.
authors.forename: Xiangrong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Zuojia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Jilin Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Changchun 130062, China.
authors.forename: Rizeng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 130062, China.
authors.forename: Ce
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 130062, China. Electronic address: abas1980@163.com.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D047188:Chalcones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D047188:Chalcones; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C070840:licochalcone A
keywords: Anticancer; Antioxidant; CAA; LCA