Anti-cancer effects of aqueous and alcoholic licorice root extracts on human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cell line

Glycyrrhiza glabra plants are known to have anti- cancer effects in traditional medicine with high antioxidant properties and few side effects. The aim of the current study was to investigate the cytotoxic activity and apoptotic effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts toward human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cell line.

In this study, ethanolic and aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra was prepared. The HepG2 and HEK293 cell lines were treated with different concentration of extracts for 24 hours. The biological activities of extracts were calculated by using colorimetric MTT (methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium) assay. Then, the apoptotic BAX and anti-apoptotic BCL2 gene expression was evaluated using real time PCR technique.

The extracts have a dose-dependent toxicity effect. BAX and BCL2 gene expression levels in HepG2 cells treated by ethanol extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra were 1.90 ± 0.01 (P

Glycyrrhiza glabra extract (especially ethanoic extract) has potential uses for treatment of liver cancer.