A review of compounds with anti-hepatoma properties in Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Abstract

Hepatoma, one of the most common fatal malignant tumors, exhibits a rising global incidence, especially in developing countries. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has played an increasingly significant role in hepatoma treatment. Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis), a perennial herb in the legume family, is also known as G. uralensis, sweet root, sweet grass, and ancient Chinese grass. Its roots and rhizomes are used medicinally for their properties to nourish Qi, detoxify, and harmonized the effects of various compounds. This study selected “Glycyrrhiza”, “hepatoma”, and “pharmacological effect” as key search terms. From PubMed, a total of 2,947 articles were retrieved containing these keywords in either the abstract or title, among which 12 were relevant to Glycyrrhiza and hepatoma. Additionally, from the Wanfang database, 19,632 papers were retrieved with “Glycyrrhiza” in the abstract or title, among which 197 were related to Glycyrrhiza and hepatoma. This review focuses on the anti-hepatoma properties of Glycyrrhiza, providing a comprehensive overview of its common extracts, such as flavonoids, triterpenoids, and polysaccharides, and elaborating on their chemical structures, anti-hepatoma cancer mechanisms, and other pharmacological effects.

Keywords

Glycyrrhiza uralensis / anti-hepatoma cancer / pharmacological effects

References

[1] Kang S. The anti-hepatoma cancer effect and mechanism of action of Glycyrrhiza uralensis flavonol. Shihezi Univ, 2024.

[2] Lai C. Anti-tumor effect of CpG-ODN co-modified liposome targeting DC. Guangxi Med Univ, 2014.

[3] Huang W, Liu C, Shen S, et al. Protective effects of licochalcone A improve airway hyper-responsiveness and oxidative stress in a mouse model of asthma. Cells, 2019, 8: 617.

[4] Chen J, Zhang Y, Lu J, et al. Practice and challenges of liver cancer prevention and screening in CN. Cancer in CN, 2023, 32: 836-847.

[5] Sun M. Chemical Components in Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Jilin Univ, 2006.

[6] Baby J, Devan A, Kumar R, et al. Cogent role of flavonoids as key orchestrators of chemoprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma. Food Bio, 2021, 45: 13761.

[7] Zhao Z, Wang W, Guo H, et al. Antidepressant-like effect of liquiritin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis in chronic variable stress induced depression model rats. Behave Brain Res, 2008, 194: 108-113.

[8] Hu Q, Lv Z, Liu W. To investigate the effect of isoliquiritigenin on airway inflammation in mice with neutrophilic asthma based on the VSIG4 /NLRP3 inflammatory complex pathway. CN J Clinical Pharm, 2024, 40: 869-873.

[9] Huang W, Liu C, Shen S, et al. Protective effects of licochalcone A improve airway hyper-responsiveness and oxidative stress in a mouse model of asthma. Cells, 2019, 8: 617.

[10] Fan Y, Dong W, Wang Y, et al. Glycyrrhetinic acid regulates impaired macrophage autophagic flux in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Front Immunol, 2022, 13: 959495.

[11] Dewake N, Ma X, Sato K, et al. β-Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits the bacterial growth and biofilm formation by supragingival plaque commensals. Microbiol Immunol, 2021, 65: 343-351.

[12] Zhang M, Li J. Inhibitory activity of G. uralensis flavonoids on CDK1 and anti-hepatoma activity. J CN Pharma Univ, 2018, 49: 72-78.

[13] Zhao Z, Wang W, Guo H, et al. Antidepressant-like effect of liquiritin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis in chronic variable stress induced depression model rats. Behave Brain Res, 2008, 194: 108-113.

[14] Wang J, Song N, Wang J, et al. The effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rb1 on hepatoma cancer through the apolipoprotein M/mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. World Tra CN Med, 2024, 19: 2578-2583.

[15] Cheng Y, Wu X, Nie X, et al. Natural compound glycyrrhetinic acid protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Phyto, 2022, 106: 154407.

[16] Kong S, Chen H, Yu X, et al. The protective effect of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid against UV irradiation-induced photoaging in mice. Exp Gero, 2015, 61: 147-155.

[17] Ji C, Jiang W, Wang X. Study on chemistry and pharmacology of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide. J Harbin Univ Commer: Sci Ed, 2004, 20: 515-518.

[18] Nadiremu X, Yu Y, Lu Y, et al. Effect and mechanism of crude polysaccharides and purified polysaccharides from Glycyrrhiza inflata on dendritic cell maturation and anti- tumor effect. CN Pharma, 2024, 35: 2453-2459.

[19] Wu FB, Xu T, Liu C, et al. Glycyrrhetinic acid- poly(ethylene glycol)-glycyrrhetinic acid tri-block conjugates based self-assembled micelles for hepatic targeted delivery of poorly water soluble drug. Sci World J, 2013, 2013: 913654.

[20] Jie M, Zhang Z, Deng N, et al. Glycyrrhetinic Acid Inhibits TGF Induced Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting STAT3. J CN Med, 2022, 50: 313-332.

[21] Sun Q, Li T, Xu H, et al. The effects of soybean saponins A and B on the proliferation and apoptosis of colon cancer cells. CN J Grain and Oil, 2010, 25: 26-33.

[22] Hu S, Wang S, Jiang L. The effect of ginsenoside Rg3 regulating Dickkopf related protein 3 on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatoma cancer cells. Hebei Med, 2022, 28: 13-17.

[23] Wang Q, Huang Y, Li Y, et al. Glycyrrhizic acid mitigates Tripterygium-glycoside-tablet-induced acute hepatoma injury via PKM2-regulated oxidative stress. Metabolites, 2022, 12: 1128.

[24] Li Y, Wu J, Lu Q, et al. GA&HA-modified liposomes for co-delivery of aprepitant and curcumin to inhibit drug resistance and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Inter J Nan, 2022, 17: 2559-2575.

[25] Du J, Cao L, Jia R, et al. Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of dietary Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide against TCDD-induced hepatic injury and RT-PCR quantification of AHR2, ARNT2, CYP1A mRNA in Jian Carp. J Environ Sci, 2017, 51: 181-190.

[26] Jones JK, Tookey HL. The constitution of an acidic polysaccharide from lucerne (Medicago sativa) and a neutral polysaccharide from Glycyrrhiza glabra root. Carbo Res. 1965, 1: 283-290.

[27] Liang Y. Screening and mechanism study of Flavonoids from Sophora japonica flower against HepG2 cells. Yangtze Univ, 2024, 37: 1648.

[28] Guo M. The uric acid-lowering effect and granules of Glycyrrhiza uralensis polysaccharides. Jiangsu Univ, 2018, 51: 181-190.

[29] Aipire A, Yuan P, Aimaier A, et al. Preparation, characterization, and immuno-enhancing activity of polysaccharides from Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Biomol, 2020, 10: 159.

[30] Lai C. Anti-tumor effect of CpG-ODN co-modified liposome targeting DC. Guangxi Med Univ, 2014, 38: 836-847.

[31] Wen N, Cai Y, Li F, et al. The clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide: A concise review and comparison of current guidelines: 2022 update. Bio Trends, 2022, 16: 20-30.

[32] Yang Y, Yang C, Zhang B, et al. Experimental study on the effect of Glycyrrhiza uralensis polysaccharides on the growth of Haemophilus parasuis in vitro and in vivo. CN J Pre Vet Med, 2016, 38: 711-714.

[33] Zhang C, Yu Y, Liang Y, et al. Purification, partial characterization, and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Int J Bio, 2015, 79: 681-686.

[34] Fang J, Ding K. Bioactivities, Isolation and Purification Methods of Polysaccharides. CN J Net Med, 2007, 5: 338-347.