Anticancer effects of licochalcones: A review of the mechanisms

Abstract

Cancer is a disease with a high fatality rate representing a serious threat to human health. Researchers have tried to identify effective anticancer drugs. Licorice is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine with various pharmacological properties, and licorice-derived flavonoids include licochalcones like licochalcone A, licochalcone B, licochalcone C, licochalcone D, licochalcone E, and licochalcone H. By regulating the expression in multiple signaling pathways such as the EGFR/ERK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, p38/JNK, JAK2/STAT3, MEK/ERK, Wnt/β-catenin, and MKK4/JNK pathways, and their downstream proteins, licochalcones can activate the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and death receptor pathway, promote autophagy-related protein expression, inhibit the expression of cell cycle proteins and angiogenesis factors, regulate autophagy and apoptosis, and inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. Among the licochalcones, the largest number of studies examined licochalcone A, far more than other licochalcones. Licochalcone A not only has prominent anticancer effects but also can be used to inhibit the efflux of antineoplastic drugs from cancer cells. Moreover, derivatives of licochalcone A exhibit strong antitumor effects. Currently, most results of the anticancer effects of licochalcones are derived from cell experiments. Thus, more clinical studies are needed to confirm the antineoplastic effects of licochalcones.

Cellular Functions of High-Temperature Requirement Factor A4 in Placenta

“…In this study, our findings demonstrate that HtrA4 knockout promotes the BeWo cell proliferation by activating the Ras-Raf-ERK and MKK3/MKK6-p38 signaling pathways, but not the JNK signaling pathway. Previous research has shown that cell proliferation is linked to the ERK, p38, and JNK signaling pathways [49]. However, the capacity for cell proliferation was increased in JEG3 cells with HtrA4 knockdown, although the increase was not statistically significant, possibly due to the transfected status of JEG3 cells or the residual presence of HtrA4.…”

Licochalcone A induces endoplasmic reticulum stress‐mediated apoptosis of endometrial cancer cells via upregulation of GRP78 expression

“…Inducing tumor cell apoptosis has been proven to be an effective and crucial strategy in cancer treatment. Numerous studies have shown that LicA is effective in treating cancer and affects a variety of cellular processes, including apoptosis, autophagy, and ER stress 9,27 . Previous research has found that the anticancer effects of LicA are mediated through multiple signaling pathways, including activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and induction of cell apoptosis by via promotion of Bax, Bad, cleaved PARP, and caspase‐3 expression 28,29 .…”

“…Numerous studies have shown that LicA is effective in treating cancer and affects a variety of cellular processes, including apoptosis, autophagy, and ER stress. 9,27 Previous research has found that the anticancer effects of LicA are mediated through multiple signaling pathways, including activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and induction of cell apoptosis by via promotion of Bax, Bad, cleaved PARP, and caspase-3 expression. 28,29 LicA induces apoptosis in bladder cancer cells by promoting expression of the ER-stress-related markers GRP78 and the proapoptotic transcription factor GADD153/CHOP.…”

Design, Synthesis, and Molecular Docking of Novel Miscellaneous Chalcones as p38α Mitogen‐Activated Protein Kinase Inhibitors

“…[11] Besides, recent studies have proven its effectiveness as an anticancer. [12] Chalcones are a class of polyphenolic chemical compounds considered a part of the flavonoid family derived from various plant sources, such as vegetables, tea, fruits, and spices. [13] In chemical bases, they are trans-1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones, comprising bi-aromatic or heteroaromatic rings with a range of substitutions bonded to one other by α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system.…”