Planta Med 2011; 77(3): 242-247
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250260
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Glycyrol Induces Apoptosis in Human Jurkat T Cell Lymphocytes via the Fas-FasL/Caspase-8 Pathway

Eun Myoung Shin1 , Sanghee Kim1 , Irmgard Merfort2 , Yeong Shik Kim1
  • 1Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

received April 22, 2010 revised July 13, 2010

accepted July 20, 2010

Publication Date:
17 August 2010 (online)

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.

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Prof. Dr. Yeong Shik Kim

Natural Products Research Institute
College of Pharmacy
Seoul National University

599 Gwanangno Gwanak-gu

Seoul 151-742

Republic of Korea

Phone: + 82 28 80 24 79

Fax: + 82 27 65 47 68

Email: kims@snu.ac.kr