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18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Induces Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Apoptosis along with Cell Cycle Arrest in Colon Cancer Cells
1 Department of Gastroenterology, Xi'an Gaoxin Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710000, China
2 Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Yulin, Yulin, Shaanxi, 719000, China
Abstract
Background and Objective: 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid, extracted from the Chinese medicinal plant licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root, has been found to have antitumor effects in a number of in vitro and in vivo studies. However, its effect on colon cancer cells is not studied much. Therefore, purpose of this study was to explore the antiproliferative and cytotoxic potential of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid against colon cancer cell line HCT-116. Materials and Methods: Human derived colorectal cancer HCT-116 cells were treated to different concentrations of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid. Post-treatment these cells were evaluated for their viability, alterations in ROS, caspases levels and expression of apoptotic genes. Moreover, the cells were further analyzed for cell cycle and its associated genes. Results: Results showed substantial anti-proliferative and cytotoxic potential of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid against HCT-116 cells which was directly proportional to its concentration and time. A dose-dependent increase in intracellular ROS level, Caspase-3 and -9 activation along with increase in Bax and decrease in Bcl2 expression was also observed in 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid-treated HCT-116 cells which indicated induction of intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Moreover, 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid also induced G0/G1 arrest in HCT-116 cells which was substantiated by decrease in cyclin D1 and CDK4 expression along with a concomitant increase in the p21 and p27 expression. Conclusion: Results have indicated substantial anti-proliferative and apoptotic potential of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid against colon cancer HCT-116 cells.