Isoliquiritigenin, a flavonoid from licorice, reduces prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide, causes apoptosis, and suppresses aberrant crypt foci development.

Abstract

Isoliquiritigenin (ILTG), a flavonoid group compound, exists in some foodstuffs and herbal medicines such as licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisher). Previously, we showed that ILTG can suppress azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in ddY mice. In the present report, we present evidence that ILTG markedly decreases both prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells. The decrease of PGE2 was dependent on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and the decrease of NO appeared due to a decrease in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression. In mouse and human colon carcinoma cells, ILTG treatment suppressed cell growth and caused apoptosis. Furthermore, in vivo administration of ILTG inhibited the induction of preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the male F344 rat colon. Our results suggest that ILTG is a promising chemopreventive agent against colon carcinogenesis.

• Authors: Tetsuyuki Takahashi, Nobuo Takasuka, Masaaki Iigo, Masaki Baba, Hoyoku Nishino, Hiroyuki Tsuda, Toru Okuyama
• Journal: Cancer science (Cancer Sci) Vol. 95 Issue 5 Pg. 448-53 (May 2004) ISSN: 1347-9032 [Print] England
• PMID: 15132774 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Chalcones
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Nitric Oxide
• Chalcone
• isoliquiritigenin
• Aldehyde Reductase
• Dinoprostone

Topics

• Aldehyde Reductase (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Carcinoma (pathology, prevention & control)
• Cell Culture Techniques
• Chalcone (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Chalcones
• Chemoprevention
• Colonic Neoplasms (pathology, prevention & control)
• Dinoprostone (analysis)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Glycyrrhiza (chemistry)
• Humans
• Macrophages
• Male
• Mice
• Nitric Oxide (analysis)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred F344