• Toxicological Research
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.19-25
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• 2014

Licochalcone (LC), a major phenolic retrochalcone from licorice, has anti-inflammatory activity. This study investigated the effects of licochalcone A (LCA) and licochalcone E (LCE) on Liver X receptor-${\alpha}$ ($LXR{\alpha}$)-mediated lipogenic gene expression and the molecular mechanisms underlying those effects. LCA and LCE antagonized the ability of $LXR{\alpha}$ agonists (T0901317 or GW3965) to increase sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) expression and thereby inhibited target gene expression (e.g., FAS and ACC) in HepG2 cells. Moreover, treatment with LCA and LCE impaired $LXR{\alpha}/RXR{\alpha}$-induced CYP7A1-LXRE-luciferase (CYP7A1) transactivation. The AMPK-Sirt1 signaling pathway is an important regulator of energy metabolism and, therefore, a potential therapeutic target for metabolic diseases, including hepatic steatosis. We found here that LCE increased AMPK phosphorylation and Sirt1 expression. We conclude that LC inhibits SREBP-1c-mediated hepatic lipogenesis via activation of the AMPK/Sirt1 signaling pathway.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제35권7호
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• pp.1996-1998
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• 2014

Licochalcone C was synthesized from commercially available 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehde by using regioselective $Al_2O_3$-mediated C-prenylation followed by conventional Claisen-Schmidt condensation in basic condition.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.72-79
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• 2022

Licochalcone H (LCH) is a phenolic compound synthetically derived from licochalcone C (LCC) that exerts anticancer activity. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of LCH in human skin cancer A375 and A431 cells. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) cell viability assay was used to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of LCH. Cell cycle distribution and the induction of apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blotting assays were performed to detect the levels of proteins involved in cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. LCH inhibited the growth of cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. The annexin V/propidium iodide double staining assay revealed that LCH induced apoptosis, and the LCH-induced apoptosis was accompanied by cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. Western blot analysis showed that the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 was decreased by treatment with LCH. The inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway by pharmacological inhibitors against JAK2/STAT3 (cryptotanshinone (CTS) and S3I-201) simulated the antiproliferative effect of LCH suggesting that LCH induced apoptosis by modulating JAK2/STAT3 signaling.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.661-673
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• 2023

Treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has always been challenged by the development of resistance. We investigated the antiproliferative activity of licochalcone H (LCH), a regioisomer of licochalcone C derived from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata, in oxaliplatin (Ox)-sensitive and -resistant CRC cells. LCH significantly inhibited cell viability and colony growth in both Ox-sensitive and Ox-resistant CRC cells. We found that LCH decreased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and AKT kinase activities and related activating signaling proteins including pEGFR and pAKT. A computational docking model indicated that LCH may interact with EGFR, AKT1, and AKT2 at the ATP-binding sites. LCH induced ROS generation and increased the expression of the ER stress markers. LCH treatment of CRC cells induced depolarization of MMP. Multi-caspase activity was induced by LCH treatment and confirmed by Z-VAD-FMK treatment. LCH increased the number of sub-G1 cells and arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase. Taken together LCH inhibits the growth of Ox-sensitive and Ox-resistant CRC cells by targeting EGFR and AKT, and inducing ROS generation and ER stress-mediated apoptosis. Therefore, LCH could be a potential therapeutic agent for improving not only Ox-sensitive but also Ox-resistant CRC treatment.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제29권12호
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• pp.1305-1313
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• 2019

감초(Glycyrrhiza inflata)의 뿌리에서 분리된 Licochalcone (LC)은 항염증 및 항종양과 같은 많은 약리학적 효과를 가지고 있다. 현재까지 LCC는 구강암과 방광암에서 연구되었지만 폐암에서의 연구는 밝혀진 바 없다. 또한, 암에서 LCC에 의해 유도된 autophagy에 대한 연구는 없었다. 본 연구는 gefitinib-민감성 또는 내성을 갖는 폐암 세포에 대한 LCC의 효과 및 작용 메커니즘을 조사하기 위해 고안되었다. MTT 분석 데이터는 LCC가 비소세포폐암 세포주인 HCC827 (gefitinib-민감성) 및 HCC827GR (gefitinib-내성)에서 세포생존율을 유의하게 억제함을 보여주었다. 흥미롭게도, Annexin V/7-aminoactinomycin D 이중 염색 및 세포주기 분석에서 가장 높은 농도의 LCC 처리는 apoptosis를 유도하는 비율이 약 10%였다. LCC는 비소세포폐암 세포주에서 세포주기 G2/M 관련 단백질인 cyclin B1 및 cdc2의 발현을 감소시킴으로써 G2/M 정지를 야기하였다. LCC의 처리는 autophagy marker 단백질인 microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) 및 autophagy과정에 관여하는 단백질인 autophagy-related gene (Atg)5의 발현을 증가시킴으로써 autophagy를 유도하였다. 또한, LCC는 reactive oxygen species (ROS)의 생성을 증가시켰으며, ROS 억제제인 N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)에 의해 세포생존율이 부분적으로 회복되었다. Western blotting 분석에서, NAC과 LCC의 동시처리에 의해 cdc2의 발현이 증가하고 LC3의 발현은 감소되었다. 이러한 결과는 LCC가 비소세포폐암에서 ROS-의존적 G2/M 정지 및 autophagy를 유도함으로써 항종양 효과에 기여할 수 있음을 나타낸다. 결론적으로, LCC 치료는 비소세포폐암에 대한 잠재적 치료제로서 유용할 수 있다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.104-114
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• 2024

Licochalcone C (LCC; PubChem CID:9840805), a chalcone compound originating from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata, has shown anticancer activity against skin cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. However, the therapeutic potential of LCC in treating colorectal cancer (CRC) and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Chemotherapy for CRC is challenging because of the development of drug resistance. In this study, we examined the antiproliferative activity of LCC in human colorectal carcinoma HCT116 cells, oxaliplatin (Ox) sensitive and Ox-resistant HCT116 cells (HCT116-OxR). LCC significantly and selectively inhibited the growth of HCT116 and HCT116-OxR cells. An in vitro kinase assay showed that LCC inhibited the kinase activities of EGFR and AKT. Molecular docking simulations using AutoDock Vina indicated that LCC could be in ATP-binding pockets. Decreased phosphorylation of EGFR and AKT was observed in the LCC-treated cells. In addition, LCC induced cell cycle arrest by modulating the expression of cell cycle regulators p21, p27, cyclin B1, and cdc2. LCC treatment induced ROS generation in CRC cells, and the ROS induction was accompanied by the phosphorylation of JNK and p38 kinases. Moreover, LCC dysregulated mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and the disruption of MMP resulted in the release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm and activation of caspases to execute apoptosis. Overall, LCC showed anticancer activity against both Ox-sensitive and Ox-resistant CRC cells by targeting EGFR and AKT, inducing ROS generation and disrupting MMP. Thus, LCC may be potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of Ox-resistant CRC cells.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.23-27
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• 2013

순무뿌리(Brassica rapassp)를 실온에서 95% ethanol 수용액으로 추출하고 이 추출물을 ethyl acetate (EtOAc)분획, n-butyl alcohol 분획 및 $H_2O$ 분획으로 나누었다. EtOAc분획에 대하여 silica gel, ODS 및 Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography를 반복실시 하여 5종의 flavonoid를 분리하였다. NMR, IR 및 MS data를 해석하여 각각 licochalcone A (1), 4,4'-dihydroxy-3'-methoxychalcone (2), liquiritigenin (3), liquiritin (4), isoliquiritin (5)으로 구조동정하였다. 이들 화합물들은 순무뿌리에서는 처음으로 분리되었다.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제42권7호
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• pp.1015-1021
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• 2013

창과감초(Glycyrrhiza inflata Batal)는 한약재의 조화를 돕고 해독, 항염증, 항궤양 등의 약리작용으로 한방에서 널리 이용되는 약용식물이다. 본 연구에서는 지방세포와 조골세포에서 감초의 생리활성을 확인하고자 감초에탄올추출물(GBE)을 이용하여 세포분화 촉진여부를 조사하였다. GBE의 세포독성여부를 통해 안전하다고 확인된 $1{\sim}30{\mu}g/mL$의 농도 내에서 실험이 진행되었고 지방세포 분화조건에서 다분화능 세포 C3H10T1/2과 지방전구세포 3T3-L1의 Oil Red O 염색을 통해 GBE의 지방세포분화 촉진효과를 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 지방세포의 핵심전사조절인자인 $PPAR{\gamma}$와 그의 표지유전자 aP2, AdipoQ, $C/EBP{\alpha}$의 발현량 증가를 통해 GBE의 지방세포분화 촉진효과를 재확인하였다. 이와 일관된 결과로서 조골세포 분화조건에서 다분화능 세포 C3H10T1/2과 조골전구세포 MC3T3-E1의 ALP 염색을 통해 GBE의 조골세포분화 촉진효과를 확인하였고 조골세포 표지유전자인 ALP, RUNX2, osterix, collagen의 발현량 증가를 통해 GBE의 조골세포분화 촉진효과를 재확인하였다. 이에 따라 본 연구에서는 GBE의 지방세포와 조골세포 분화효과를 매개하는 감초의 구성성분을 조사하기 위해 GA(glycyrrhizic acid)와 LA(licochalcone A)의 분화촉진 여부를 확인한 결과, GA는 영향을 주지 않으나 LA가 GBE의 세포분화효과를 매개한다고 사료된다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 제2형 당뇨와 그에 수반되는 골질환과 골다공증에 대한 치료 소재로서 GBE와 그의 생리활성을 매개할 수 있는 LA의 가능성을 보았으며 GBE에서 분리되는 다양한 화합물의 동정 및 생리활성 효과, LA와의 상승효과 등의 추후 연구가 기대된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권10호
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• pp.1245-1252
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• 2022

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be generated from somatic cells using Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM). Small molecules can enhance reprogramming. Licochalcone D (LCD), a flavonoid compound present mainly in the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata, acts on known signaling pathways involved in transcriptional activity and signal transduction, including the PGC1-α and MAPK families. In this study, we demonstrated that LCD improved reprogramming efficiency. LCD-treated iPSCs (LCD-iPSCs) expressed pluripotency-related genes Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and Prdm14. Moreover, LCD-iPSCs differentiated into all three germ layers in vitro and formed chimeras. The mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) is critical for somatic cell reprogramming. We found that the expression levels of mesenchymal genes (Snail2 and Twist) decreased and those of epithelial genes (DSP, Cldn3, Crb3, and Ocln) dramatically increased in OR-MEF (OG2^+/+/ROSA26^+/+) cells treated with LCD for 3 days, indicating that MET effectively occurred in LCD-treated OR-MEF cells. Thus, LCD enhanced the generation of iPSCs from somatic cells by promoting MET at the early stages of reprogramming.