LIQUIRITIGENIN

The Uses of LIQUIRITIGENIN

Liquiritigenin has been used:

• to study its inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis in the treatment of colorectal cancer
• as a reference standard for ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) of Chaihu-Shugan-San (CSS) extract
• as a potential antiviral drug against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection

Definition

ChEBI: A dihydroxyflavanone compound having the two hydroxy substituents at the 4'- and 7-positions. Isolated from the root of Glycyrrhizae uralensis, it is a selective agonist for oestrogen receptor beta.

General Description

Liquiritigenin is a flavonoid and an estrogenic compound found in licorice (Glycyrrhizae radix) root extract and several other plants.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Liquiritigenin displays anti-diabetic and choleretic properties. It exerts anti-inflammatory activity on Raw246.7 cells by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-dependent-induction of inducible NOS (iNOS). Liquiritigenin inhibits liver fibrogenesis by blocking Hippo/Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/small mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) components. It is a selective estrogen receptor β agonist cells. Liquiritigenin induces apoptosis in SMM-721 cells by disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential and increased production of reactive oxygen species.

Purification Methods

It crystallises from aqueous 50% EtOH. [Beilstein 18 III/IV 1780, 18/4 V 82.]