Planta Med 2005; 71(2): 130-134
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-837779
Original Paper
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Isoliquiritigenin Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Hepatoma Cells

Ya-Ling Hsu1 , Po-Lin Kuo2 , Liang-Tzung Lin3 , Chun-Ching Lin1
  • 1Graduate Institute of Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • 2Department of Biotechnology, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
  • 3Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Further Information

Publication History

Received: April 13, 2004

Accepted: August 21, 2004

Publication Date:
24 February 2005 (online)

Abstract

Isoliquiritigenin (4,2′,4′-trihydroxychalcone, ISL) is a natural pigment with a simple chalcone structure. In this study, we report the ISL-induced inhibition on the growth of human hepatoma cells (Hep G2) for the first time. The cell growth inhibition achieved by ISL treatment resulted in programmed cell death in a caspase activation-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 10.51 μg/mL. Outcomes of ISL treatment included the up-regulation of IκBα expression in the cytoplasm, and the decrease of NF-κB level as well as its activity in the nucleus. In addition, ISL also suppressed the expression of Bcl-XL and c-IAP1/2 protein, the downstream target molecule of NF-κB. These results demonstrated that ISL treatment inhibited the NF-κB cell survival-signaling pathway and induced apoptotic cell death in Hep G2 cells.

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Professor Chun-Ching Lin

Graduate Institute of Natural Products

College of Pharmacy

Kaohsiung Medical University

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Kaohsiung 807

Taiwan

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