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Simple Summary: Evidence suggests that inflammation mediated by the activation of various inflammatory signaling pathways contributes significantly to HFD-related renal damage. This study investigated the effects of the ISL against renal damage induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and explored its underlying mechanisms. Generally, ISL enhanced renal antioxidant levels, increasing GSH, SOD, and CAT. Moreover, ISL downregulated mRNA levels of MD-2, Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), and NF-κB, leading to reduced NF-κB p65 levels in renal tissues. Therefore, this study can provide a reference for the study of HFD-induced renal toxicity. This study tested the ISL against renal damage induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and explored its underlying mechanisms. Adult male rats were assigned to four groups: (1) control on a standard diet (STD), (2) ISL on STD (30 mg/kg), (3) HFD, and (4) HFD + ISL (30 mg/kg). After 12 weeks of dietary intervention, ISL treatment led to significant reductions in body weight gain, visceral fat, and glucose and insulin levels in HFD-fed rats. Notably, ISL decreased serum urea and creatinine, increased serum albumin, and improved urinary profiles by lowering the urinary albumin and the albumin/creatinine ratio. Histological analyses revealed that ISL enhanced the glomerular structure and mitigated tubular damage, as evidenced by reduced urinary excretion of the kidney injury markers NGAL and KIM-1. Additionally, ISL significantly lowered cholesterol, triglycerides, and free fatty acids in both the control and HFD groups while also decreasing oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDLs) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Importantly, ISL enhanced renal antioxidant levels, increasing glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Moreover, ISL downregulated mRNA levels of MD-2, Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), and NF-κB, leading to reduced NF-κB p65 levels in renal tissues. In conclusion, ISL offers substantial protection against HFD-induced renal toxicity through mechanisms that attenuate metabolic stress, enhance antioxidant defenses, and inhibit the MD-2/TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer ranks as the most widespread malignant condition in women, emerging as a primary contributor to mortality. The primary challenges in cancer treatments involve undesirable side effects. Therefore, exploring natural compounds as additional therapy could provide valuable insights. Isoliquiritigenin (ILN), an isoflavonoid featuring a chalcone moiety primarily sourced from Glycyrrhiza species, has garnered increasing interest in breast cancer research. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of ILN's mechanisms of action in breast cancer, drawing from a range of in vitro and in vivo studies. ILN primarily acts by inhibiting angiogenesis, aromatase, inflammation, and cell proliferation, and preventing invasion and metastasis. Mechanistically, it downregulates miR-374a, phosphoinositide-3-kinase–protein kinase B/Akt, maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase, vascular endothelial growth factor, and estrogen receptor protein levels, and causes enhancement of Wnt inhibitory factor-1, and Unc-51-like kinase 1 expression to treat breast cancer. ILN emerges as a promising natural option, offering therapeutic advantages with minimal side effects. However, it is important to note that current research on ILN is primarily limited to preclinical models, underscoring the need for further investigation to validate its potential efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of the present investigation is to develop and validate a simple, robust, and cost-effective isocratic reverse phase-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for determining isoliquiritigenin (ISL) in both bulk and biological samples using an analytical quality-by-design (AQbD) approach. The central composite design was employed for method optimization using Design Expert® software, by taking mobile phase ratio and flow rate as independent variables and peak area, retention time, tailing factor, and theoretical plates as dependent variables. The design suggested the use of a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile:0.2% ortho-phosphoric acid (75:25, v/v) and a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min as optimal chromatographic conditions. The detection of ISL was performed at 364 nm. The optimized method was validated in accordance with International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Q2(R1) guidelines. The method showed excellent linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, accuracy, precision, robustness, and system suitability. All validation parameters fell within the acceptable limits set by ICH. Additionally, the applicability of the method in biological samples were analyzed. In conclusion, the results suggest that the developed and validated AQbD-based RP-HPLC method was well-suited for the estimation of ISL in bulk and biological sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a naturally occurring flavonoid derived from licorice root, exhibits antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties, and is frequently detected in both environmental and human samples. Previous studies from our lab have demonstrated that ISL exposure can lead to developmental deformities and aberrant immune responses. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ISL toxicity in zebrafish embryos remain incompletely elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the effects of ISL exposure on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in zebrafish embryos by assessing the expression levels of ER stress markers HSPA5 and CHOP, along with associated apoptosis factors, under various ISL concentrations, with tunicamycin (TM) serving as a positive control. Furthermore, targeted analyses of ER stress-related pathways were conducted using RNA transcriptome sequencing, and the up-regulated gene was verified by western blot. The results revealed that ISL exposure significantly elevated the expression levels of HSPA5 and CHOP, concomitantly activating ER stress pathways, including pPERK-eIF2α-ATF4 and ATF6 pathways in zebrafish embryos. These findings suggest that the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling pathways may contribute to the developmental deformities observed in zebrafish embryos following ISL exposure, thereby highlighting the potential ecological risks associated with ISL usage.

Abstract Background Ischemia reperfusion (IR) causes impaired myocardial function, and autophagy activation ameliorates myocardial IR injury. Isoliquiritigenin (ISO) has been found to protect myocardial tissues via AMPK, with exerting anti-tumor property through autophagy activation. This study aims to investigate ISO capacity to attenuate myocardial IR through autophagy activation mediated by AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling. Methods ISO effects were explored by SD rats and H9c2 cells. IR rats and IR-induced H9c2 cell models were established by ligating left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and hypoxia/re-oxygenation, respectively, followed by low, medium and high dosages of ISO intervention (Rats: 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg; H9c2 cells: 1, 10, and 100 μmol/L). Myocardial tissue injury in rats was assessed by myocardial function-related index, HE staining, Masson trichrome staining, TTC staining, and ELISA. Autophagy of H9c2 cells was detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunofluorescence. Autophagy-related and AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway-related protein expressions were detected with western blot. Results ISO treatment caused myocardial function improvement, and inhibition of myocardial inflammatory infiltration, fibrosis, infarct area, oxidative stress, CK-MB, cTnI, and cTnT expression in IR rats. In IR-modeled H9c2 cells, ISO treatment lowered apoptosis rate and activated autophagy and LC3 fluorescence expression. In vivo and in vitro, ISO intervention exhibited enhanced Beclin1, LC3II/LC3I, and p-AMPK/AMPK levels, whereas inhibited P62, p-mTOR/mTOR and p-ULK1(S757)/ULK1 protein expression, activating autophagy and protecting myocardial tissues from IR injury. Conclusion ISO treatment may induce autophagy by regulating AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling, thereby improving myocardial IR injury, as a potential candidate for treatment of myocardial IR injury.

Background and objective Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is an important pharmacological constituent of Glycyrrhiza glabra, which possesses a range of physiological and pharmacological activities, as well as significant antitumor activity, and can be used as a potential drug for targeted cancer therapy. LINC01503 is an oncogene, which has been closely associated with the malignant biological processes of many cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ISL on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration of lung squamous carcinoma cells by regulating LINC01503. Methods Plasma was collected from lung squamous carcinoma patients and healthy individuals treated at Tangshan People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022. The expression of LINC01503 in lung squamous carcinoma plasma, tissues and cells was detected by real-time quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Lung squamous carcinoma cells were treated with different concentrations of ISL for 24 h, and LINC01503 expression was detected by qRT-PCR. The cells were treated in groups: si-NC group, si-LINC01503 group, DMSO (0.1% dimethyl sulfone) group, ISL group, pc DNA3.1(+)-NC group, pc DNA3.1(+)-LINC01503 group, ISL+pc DNA3.1(+)-NC group and ISL+pc DNA3.1(+)- LINC01503 groups. CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, flow cytometry, Transwell assay and scratch assay were used to explore the effect of LINC01503 on the functional phenotype of lung squamous carcinoma cells. Results Fluorescence in situ hybridization results showed that the average fluorescence intensity of LINC01503 in tissue microarrays of lung squamous carcinoma patients was higher than that in paracancerous tissues (P

Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor responsible for cytoprotection, plays a crucial role in regulating the expression of numerous antioxidant genes, thereby reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and safeguarding cells against oxidative stress. Extensive research has demonstrated the involvement of Nrf2 in various diseases, prompting the exploration of Nrf2 activation as a potential therapeutic approach for a variety of diseases. Consequently, there has been a surge of interest in investigating the Nrf2 signaling pathway and developing compounds that can modulate its activity. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) (PubChem CID:638278) exhibits a diverse range of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-tumor properties. Notably, its robust antioxidant activity has garnered significant attention. Furthermore, ISL has been found to possess therapeutic effects on various diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, and cancer, through the activation of the Nrf2 pathway. This review aims to evaluate the potential of ISL in modulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway and summarize the role of ISL in diverse diseases prevention and treatment through modulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: White matter injury is a predominant form of brain injury in preterm infants. However, effective drugs for its treatment are currently lacking. Previous studies have shown the neuroprotective effects of Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), but its impact on white matter injury in preterm infants remains poorly understood. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of ISL against white matter injury caused by infection in preterm infants using a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide-induced white matter injury, integrating network pharmacology as well as in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods: This study explores the potential mechanisms of ISL on white matter injury by integrating network pharmacology. Core pathways and biological processes affected by ISL were verified through experiments, and motor coordination, anxiety-like, and depression-like behaviors of mice were evaluated using behavioral experiments. White matter injury was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining, Luxol Fast Blue staining, and electron microscopy. The development of oligodendrocytes and the activation of microglia in mice were assessed by immunofluorescence. The expression of related proteins was detected by Western blot. Results: We constructed a drug-target network, including 336 targets associated with ISL treatment of white matter injury. The biological process of ISL treatment of white matter injury mainly involves microglial inflammation regulation and myelination. Our findings revealed that ISL reduced early nerve reflex barriers and white matter manifestations in mice, leading to decreased activation of microglia and release of proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, ISL demonstrated the ability to mitigate impairment in oligodendrocyte development and myelination, ultimately improving behavior disorders in adult mice. Mechanistically, we observed that ISL downregulated HDAC3 expression, promoted histone acetylation, enhanced the expression of H3K27ac, and regulated oligodendrocyte pro-differentiation factors. Conclusion: These findings suggest that ISL can have beneficial effects on white matter injury in preterm infants by alleviating inflammation and promoting oligodendrocyte differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial dysfunction occurs prior to atherosclerosis, which is an independent predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Diabetes mellitus impairs endothelial function by triggering oxidative stress and inflammation in vascular tissues. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), one of the major bioactive ingredients extracted from licorice, has been reported to inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the therapeutic effects of ISL on ameliorating type 2 diabetes (T2D)-associated endothelial dysfunction remain unknown. In our animal study, db/db male mice were utilized as a model for T2D-associated endothelial dysfunction, while their counterpart, heterozygote db/m+ male mice, served as the control. Mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (mBMECs) were used for in vitro experiments. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was used to induce endothelial cell dysfunction. ISL significantly reversed the impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxations (EDRs) in db/db mouse aortas. ISL treatment decreased ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels in db/db mice aortic sections and IL-1β-treated endothelial cells. Encouragingly, ISL attenuated the overexpression of pro-inflammatory factors MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 in db/db mouse aortas and IL-1β-impaired endothelial cells. The NOX2 (NADPH oxidase 2) overexpression was inhibited by ISL treatment. Notably, ISL treatment restored the expression levels of IL-10, SOD1, Nrf2, and HO-1 in db/db mouse aortas and IL-1β-impaired endothelial cells. This study illustrates, for the first time, that ISL attenuates endothelial dysfunction in T2D mice, offering new insights into the pharmacological effects of ISL. Our findings demonstrate the potential of ISL as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of vascular diseases, paving the way for the further exploration of novel vascular therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, a multifaceted pathological process, occurs when the prolongation of reperfusion duration triggers ferroptosis-mediated myocardial damage. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a single flavonoid from licorice, exhibits a wide range of pharmacological impacts, but its function in ferroptosis caused by myocardial I/R injury remains unclear. This study delved into the protective effect of ISL on myocardial I/R injury-induced ferroptosis and its mechanism. Neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes (NMCM) underwent hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) to simulate the pathological process of myocardial I/R. ISL significantly attenuated H/R-triggered production of reactive oxygen species in NMCM, reduced the expression of malondialdehyde and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase, enhanced superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, and increased the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), thereby mitigating oxidative stress damage. CCK8 experiment revealed that the ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 significantly improved myocardial cell viability after 24 h of reoxygenation, and ISL treatment showed a similar effect. ISL reduced intracellular free iron accumulation, up-regulated glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) expression, and inhibited lipid peroxidation accumulation, thereby alleviating ferroptosis. The Nrf2-specific inhibitor ML385 counteracted ISL's defensive role against H/R-triggered oxidative stress damage and ferroptosis. In vivo experiments further confirmed that by regulating the translocation of Nrf2 into the nucleus, ISL treatment increased the levels of HO-1, GPX4, and SLC7A11, inhibited the expression of ACSL4, Drp1 to exert the antioxidant role, alleviated mitochondrial damage, and ferroptosis, ultimately reducing myocardial infarction area and injury induced by I/R. ML385 nearly abolished ISL's protective impact on the I/R model by inhibiting Nrf2 function. In summary, ISL is capable of mitigating oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and cardiomyocyte ferroptosis caused by I/R, thereby reducing myocardial injury. A key mechanism includes triggering the Nrf2/HO-1/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway to prevent oxidative stress damage and cardiomyocyte ferroptosis caused by I/R. [Display omitted] • Isoliquiritigenin mitigates myocardial oxidative stress, and mitochondrial damage induced by I/R. • Cardiomyocyte ferroptosis has an essential role in mediating myocardial I/R injury. • Isoliquiritigenin activates the Nrf2/HO-1/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway to reduce cardiomyocyte ferroptosis to protect hearts against myocardial I/R injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isoliquiritigen (ISL), a constituent of licorice, has been shown to possess antitumorigenic effects in diverse cancer types. In this study, we observed that ISL suppressed breast tumor development significantly more effectively in immunocompetent mice than in immunocompromised ones. In exploring the cause of such a discrepancy, we detected robust tumor infiltration of CD8 + T lymphocytes in mice treated with ISL, not seen in tumors derived from vehicle-treated mice. Moreover, we found a dramatic reduction in PD-L1 in both experimental breast tumors and cultured breast cancer cells upon ISL treatment. In further experiments, we showed that ISL selectively elevated miR-200c in breast cancer and confirmed that PD-L1 mRNA is the target of miR-200c in both murine and human breast cancer cells. ISL suppression of PD-L1 was functionally linked to miR-200c/ZEB1/2 because (1) ISL diminished ZEB1/2; (2) knockdown of ZEB1/2 led to the disappearance of PD-L1; and (3) miR-200c antagomiR disabled ISL to reduce PD-L1. We found evidence that ISL reduced the level of PD-L1 by simultaneously intercepting the ERK and Src signaling pathways. In agreement with clinical finding that PD-L1 antibodies enhance efficacy of taxane-based therapy, we showed that ISL improved the tumoricidal effects of paclitaxel in an orthopedic murine breast tumor model. This study demonstrates that ISL-led tumor suppression acts through the augmentation of host antitumor immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ischemia reperfusion (IR) causes impaired myocardial function, and autophagy activation ameliorates myocardial IR injury. Isoliquiritigenin (ISO) has been found to protect myocardial tissues via AMPK, with exerting anti-tumor property through autophagy activation. This study aims to investigate ISO capacity to attenuate myocardial IR through autophagy activation mediated by AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling. Methods: ISO effects were explored by SD rats and H9c2 cells. IR rats and IR-induced H9c2 cell models were established by ligating left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and hypoxia/re-oxygenation, respectively, followed by low, medium and high dosages of ISO intervention (Rats: 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg; H9c2 cells: 1, 10, and 100 μmol/L). Myocardial tissue injury in rats was assessed by myocardial function-related index, HE staining, Masson trichrome staining, TTC staining, and ELISA. Autophagy of H9c2 cells was detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunofluorescence. Autophagy-related and AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway-related protein expressions were detected with western blot. Results: ISO treatment caused myocardial function improvement, and inhibition of myocardial inflammatory infiltration, fibrosis, infarct area, oxidative stress, CK-MB, cTnI, and cTnT expression in IR rats. In IR-modeled H9c2 cells, ISO treatment lowered apoptosis rate and activated autophagy and LC3 fluorescence expression. In vivo and in vitro, ISO intervention exhibited enhanced Beclin1, LC3II/LC3I, and p-AMPK/AMPK levels, whereas inhibited P62, p-mTOR/mTOR and p-ULK1(S757)/ULK1 protein expression, activating autophagy and protecting myocardial tissues from IR injury. Conclusion: ISO treatment may induce autophagy by regulating AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling, thereby improving myocardial IR injury, as a potential candidate for treatment of myocardial IR injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) has excellent neuroprotective effects. However, its limitations, including poor solubility, low bioavailability, and low accumulation in the brain, restrict its clinical promotion. In this study, a novel type of ISL-loaded liposome (ISL-LP) modified with the brain-targeting polypeptide angiopep-2 was prepared to improve these properties. The zeta potential, morphology, particle size, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, and in vitro release of ISL-LP were evaluated. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of ISL and ISL-LP were also investigated. The results demonstrated that ISL-LP had an average particle size of 89.36 ± 5.04 nm, a polymer dispersity index of 0.17 ± 0.03, a zeta potential of −20.27 ± 2.18 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 75.04 ± 3.28%. The in vitro release experiments indicate that ISL-LP is a desirable sustained-release system. After intravenous administration, LPC-LP prolonged the circulation time of ISL in vivo and enhanced its relative brain uptake. In conclusion, ISL-LP could serve as a promising brain-targeting system for the treatment and prevention of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the erectogenic properties of isoliquiritigenin taking sildenafil (SDF) as the standard. Methods: The binding affinity of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) with the erectile marker proteins (endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS] and enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 [PDE5]) was investigated using Autodock Vina, which was validated using molecular dynamics simulation. Furthermore, the effect of ISL on the eNOS and PDE5 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and the sexual behavior of mice was investigated, along with the assessment of the pharmacokinetics of ISL. Key findings: The results revealed that the binding affinity of ISL-eNOS/PDE5 and SDF-eNOS/PDE5 was in the range of −7.5 to −8.6 kcal/mol. The ISL-eNOS/PDE5 complexes remained stable throughout the 100 ns simulation period. Root mean square deviation, Rg, SASA, hydrogen, and hydrophobic interactions were similar between ISL-eNOS/PDE5 and SDF-eNOS/PDE5. Analysis of mRNA expressions in paroxetine (PRX)-induced ED mice showed that the co-administration of PRX with ISL reduced PDE5 and increased eNOS mRNA expression, similar to the co-administered group (PRX+SDF). The sexual behavior study revealed that the results of PRX+ISL were better than those of the PRX+SDF group. Pharmacokinetic evaluation further demonstrated that ISL possesses drug-like properties. Conclusions: The results showed that ISL is equally potent as SDF in terms of binding affinity, specific pharmacological properties, and modulating sexual behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent form of chronic liver disease in the world. New non-invasive diagnostic tools are needed to promptly treat this disease and avoid its complications. This study aimed to find key metabolites and related variables that could be used to predict and diagnose NAFLD. Ninety-eight subjects with NAFLD and 45 controls from the Fatty Liver in Obesity (FLiO) Study (NCT03183193) were analyzed. NAFLD was diagnosed and graded by ultrasound and classified into two groups: 0 (controls) and ≥ 1 (NAFLD). Hepatic status was additionally assessed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), elastography, and determination of transaminases. Anthropometry, body composition (DXA), biochemical parameters, and lifestyle factors were evaluated as well. Non-targeted metabolomics of serum was performed with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOF-MS). Isoliquiritigenin (ISO) had the strongest association with NAFLD out of the determinant metabolites. Individuals with higher concentrations of ISO had healthier metabolic and hepatic status and were less likely to have NAFLD (OR 0.13). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated the predictive power of ISO in panel combination with other NAFLD and IR-related variables, such as visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (AUROC 0.972), adiponectin (AUROC 0.917), plasmatic glucose (AUROC 0.817), and CK18-M30 (AUROC 0.810). Individuals with lower levels of ISO have from 71 to 82% more risk of presenting NAFLD compared to individuals with higher levels. Metabolites such as ISO, in combination with visceral adipose tissue, IR, and related markers, constitute a potential non-invasive tool to predict and diagnose NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is prevalent in Asia and exhibits highly metastatic characteristics, leading to uncontrolled disease progression. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) have attracted attention due to their diverse biological and pharmacological properties, including anticancer activities. However, the impact of ISL on the invasive and migratory ability of NPC remains poorly understood. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the in vitro anti‐metastatic effects of ISL on NPC cells and elucidate the underlying signalling pathways. Human NPC cell NPC‐39 and NPC‐BM were utilized as cell models. Migratory and invasive capabilities were evaluated through wound healing and invasion assays, respectively. Gelatin zymography was employed to demonstrate matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) activity, while western blotting was conducted to analyse protein expression levels and explore signalling cascades. Overexpression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was carried out by transduction of STAT3‐expressing vector. Our findings revealed that ISL effectively suppressed the migration and invasion of NPC cells. Gelatin zymography and Western blotting assays demonstrated that ISL treatment led to a reduction in MMP‐2 enzyme activity and protein expression. Investigation of signalling cascades revealed that ISL treatment resulted in the inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation. Moreover, overexpression of STAT3 restored the migratory ability of NPC cells in the presence of ISL. Collectively, these findings indicate that ISL inhibits the migration and invasion of NPC cells associating with MMP‐2 downregulation through suppressing STAT3 activation. This suggests that ISL has an anti‐metastatic effect on NPC cells and has potential therapeutic benefit for NPC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White adipose tissue accumulation and inflammation contribute to obesity by inducing insulin resistance. Herein, we aimed to screen the synergistic components of the herbal pair Coptidis Rhizoma‐Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma for the treatment of insulin resistance and explore the potential synergistic mechanisms. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative PCR were used to detect expression levels of inflammatory genes in vitro and in vivo. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect protein levels of the insulin signaling pathway and macrophage markers. The effects on obesity‐induced insulin resistance were verified using a diet‐induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. Interactions between macrophage and adipocyte were assessed using a cellular supernatant transfer assay. Berberine (BBR) and isoliquiritigenin (ISL) alleviated mRNA levels and secretion of inflammatory genes in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, BBR acted synergistically with ISL to ameliorate obesity and dyslipidemia in DIO mice. Meanwhile, the combination treatment significantly improved glucose intolerance and insulin resistance and decreased M1‐macrophage accumulation and infiltration in the adipose tissue. Mechanistically, co‐treatment with BBR and ISL upregulated the protein expression of the IRS1‐PI3K‐Akt insulin signaling pathway, enhanced glucose uptake in adipocyte, and suppressed the interaction between macrophage and adipocyte. BBR and ISL were identified as the synergistic components of the herbal pair Coptidis Rhizoma‐Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma for treating insulin resistance. The synergistic combination of BBR with ISL can be a promising and effective strategy for improving obesity‐induced adipose inflammation and insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco black shank (TBS), caused by Phytophthora nicotianae, is a severe disease. Plant root exudates play a crucial role in mediating plant-pathogen interactions in the rhizosphere. However, the specific interaction between key secondary metabolites present in root exudates and the mechanisms of disease resistance remains poorly understood. This study conducted a comprehensive comparison via quasi-targeted metabolomic analysis on the root exudate metabolites from the tobacco cultivar Yunyan87 and K326, both before and after inoculation with P. nicotianae. The results showed that the root exudate metabolites changed after P. nicotianae inoculation, and the root exudate metabolites of different tobacco cultivar was significantly different. Furthermore, homovanillic acid, lauric acid, and isoliquiritigenin were identified as potential key compounds for TBS resistance based on their impact on the mycelium growth of the pathogens. The pot experiment showed that isoliquiritigenin reduced the incidence by 55.2%, while lauric acid reduced it by 45.8%. This suggests that isoliquiritigenin and lauric acid have potential applications in the management of TBS. In summary, this study revealed the possible resistance mechanisms of differential metabolites in resistance of commercial tobacco cultivar, and for the first time discovered the inhibitory effects of isoliquiritigenin and homovanillic acid on P. nictianae, and attempt to use plants secondary metabolites of for plant protection.

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) refers to a secondary brain injury that occurs when blood supply is restored to ischemic brain tissue and is one of the leading causes of adult disability and mortality. Multiple pathological mechanisms are involved in the progression of CIRI, including neuronal oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) has been preliminarily reported to have potential neuroprotective effects on rats subjected to cerebral ischemic insult. However, the protective mechanisms of ISL have not been elucidated. This study aims to further investigate the effects of ISL-mediated neuroprotection and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism. The findings indicate that ISL treatment significantly alleviated middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced cerebral infarction, neurological deficits, histopathological damage, and neuronal apoptosis in mice. In vitro, ISL effectively mitigated the reduction of cell viability, Na+-K+-ATPase, and MnSOD activities, as well as the degree of DNA damage induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injury in PC12 cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that administration of ISL evidently improved redox homeostasis and restored mitochondrial function via inhibiting oxidative stress injury and ameliorating mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial fusion-fission balance, and mitophagy. Moreover, ISL facilitated the dissociation of Keap1/Nrf2, enhanced the nuclear transfer of Nrf2, and promoted the binding activity of Nrf2 with ARE. Finally, ISL obviously inhibited neuronal apoptosis by activating the Nrf2 pathway and ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction in mice. Nevertheless, Nrf2 inhibitor brusatol reversed the mitochondrial protective properties and anti-apoptotic effects of ISL both in vivo and in vitro. Overall, our findings revealed that ISL exhibited a profound neuroprotective effect on mice following CIRI insult by reducing oxidative stress and ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction, which was closely related to the activation of the Nrf2 pathway.

Lung cancer (LC) represents the leading cause of global cancer deaths, with cigarette smoking being considered a major risk factor. Nicotine is a major hazardous compound in cigarette smoke (CS), which stimulates LC progression and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specifically through activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR)-mediated cell-signaling pathways and molecular genes involved in proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Chalcones (CHs) and their derivatives are intermediate plant metabolites involved in flavonol biosynthesis. Isoliquiritigenin (ILTG), licochalcone A–E (LicoA–E), and echinatin (ECH) are the most common natural CHs isolated from the root of Glycyrrhiza (also known as licorice). In vitro and/or vivo experiments have shown that licorice CHs treatment exhibits a range of pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Despite advances in NSCLC treatment, the mechanisms of licorice CHs in nicotine-induced NSCLC treatment remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to review experimental studies through the PubMed/Medline database that reveal the effects of licorice CHs and their potential mechanisms in nicotine-induced NSCLC treatment.

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a chalcone‐type flavonoid derived from the root of licorice with antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐tumour and neuroprotective properties. ISL has been proven to downregulate the productions of IL‐1β, TNF‐α and IL‐6 by macrophages. However, detailed molecular mechanisms of this modulation remain elusive. Here, ISL suppressed Syk phosphorylation and CD80, CD86, IL‐1β, TNF‐α and IL‐6 expressions in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated macrophages ex vivo. ApoC3‐transgenic (ApoC3TG) mice had more activated macrophages. ISL was also able to downregulate the inflammatory activities of macrophages from ApoC3TG mice. Administration of ISL inhibited Syk activation and inflammatory activities of macrophages in ApoC3TG mice in vivo. The treatment of ISL further alleviated MCD‐induced non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in wild‐type and ApoC3TG mice, accompanied by less recruitment and activation of liver macrophages. Due to the inhibition of Syk phosphorylation, ISL‐treated macrophages displayed less production of cytoplasmic ROS, NLRP3, cleaved‐GSDMD and cleaved‐IL‐1β, suggesting less inflammasome activation. Finally, the molecular docking study demonstrated that ISL bound to Syk directly with the Kd of 1.273 × 10−8 M. When the Syk expression was knocked down by its shRNA, the inhibitory effects of ISL on activated macrophages disappeared, indicating that Syk was at least one of key docking‐molecules of ISL. Collectively, ISL could alleviate MCD‐induced NAFLD in mice involved with the inhibition of macrophage inflammatory activity by the blockade of Syk‐induced inflammasome activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intrinsic resistance of MRSA coupled with biofilm antibiotic tolerance challenges the antibiotic treatment of MRSA biofilm infections. Phytochemical-based nanoplatform is a promising emerging approach for treatment of biofilm infection. However, their therapeutic efficacy was restricted by the low drug loading capacity and lack of selectivity. Herein, we constructed a surface charge adaptive phytochemical-based nanoparticle with high isoliquiritigenin (ISL) loading content for effective treatment of MRSA biofilm. A dimeric ISL prodrug (ISL-G2) bearing a lipase responsive ester bond was synthesized, and then encapsulated into the amphiphilic quaternized oligochitosan. The obtained ISL-G2 loaded NPs possessed positively charged surface, which allowed cis-aconityl-d -tyrosine (CA-Tyr) binding via electrostatic interaction to obtain ISL-G2@TMDCOS-Tyr NPs. The NPs maintained their negatively charged surface, thus prolonging the blood circulation time. In response to low pH in the biofilms, the fast removal of CA-Tyr led to a shift in their surface charge from negative to positive, which enhanced the accumulation and penetration of NPs in the biofilms. Sequentially, the pH-triggered release of d -tyrosine dispersed the biofilm and lipase-triggered released of ISL effectively kill biofilm MRSA. An in vivo study was performed on a MRSA biofilm infected wound model. This phytochemical-based system led to ~2 log CFU (> 99 %) reduction of biofilm MRSA as compared to untreated wound (P < 0.001) with negligible biotoxicity in mice. This phytochemical dimer nanoplatform shows great potential for long-term treatment of resistant bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is a serious and complex metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. In recent years natural products has gained much more interest by researchers as alternative sources for diabetes treatment. Though many potential agents are identified so far but their clinical utility is limited because of their adverse effects. Therefore, there is a keen interest in discovering natural compounds to treat diabetes efficiently with less side effects. Dalbergia latifolia is well explored because of its diverse pharmacological activities including diabetes. Therefore, the present research work aimed to identify and isolate the potential antidiabetic agents from the heart wood of Dalbergia latifolia. We successfully extracted DGN and ISG from the heartwood and evaluated their antidiabetic potential both in-vivo and in-vitro. Alpha amylase activity inhibition of ISG and DGN was found to be 99.05 ± 8.54% (IC50 = 0.6025 µg/mL) and 84.68 ± 5.2% (IC50 = 0.0216 µg/mL) respectively. Glucose uptake assay revealed DGN (158%) promoted maximum uptake than ISG (77%) over control. In vivo anti diabetic activity was evaluated by inducing diabetes in SD rats with the help of HFD and STZ (35 mg/kg body weight). After the continuous administration of DGN (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) and ISG (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) for 14 days, we observed the reduction in the blood glucose levels, body weight, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, blood urea, serum creatinine, serum glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels than vehicle group indicates the potency of ISG and DGN against diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain leucine‐rich repeat and pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome contributes to the development of inflammatory diseases. Cryopyrin‐associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is an autoinflammatory disease caused by NLRP3 gene mutations that results in excessive IL‐1β production. We previously identified isoliquiritigenin (ILG), a component of Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts, as a potent inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Here, we aimed to investigate whether ILG inhibits the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome caused by NLRP3 gene mutations. We demonstrated that ILG significantly inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome‐mediated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and IL‐1β production in two CAPS model THP‐1 cell lines, NLRP3‐D303N and NLRP3‐L353P, in a dose‐dependent manner. Interestingly, the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 inhibited LDH release and IL‐1β production in NLRP3‐D303N cells, but not in NLRP3‐L353P cells. Western blotting and caspase‐1 activity assays showed that ILG, as well as caspase inhibitors, including Z‐VAD and YVAD, suppressed caspase‐1 activation. Notably, ILG prevented cryo‐sensitive foci formation of NLRP3 without affecting the levels of intracellular Ca2+. We concluded that ILG effectively prevents the constitutive activation of the inflammasome associated with NLRP3 gene mutations by inhibiting the aggregation of cryo‐sensitive mutated NLRP3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) lead to severe irritation and impaired sperm quality in males. However, current therapeutic options often fail to achieve satisfactory effects. Consequently, the investigation of novel treatment strategies or remedies holds substantial clinical importance. As a flavonoid monomer, isoliquiritigenin (ISL) has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity, especially in several chronic nonspecific-inflammatory conditions. Thus, an exploration of the possible anti-inflammatory effects of ISL on CP/CPPS, a chronic aseptic inflammation of the prostate, has significant potential. An experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) model was used for the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effects of ISL. It was found that ISL treatment could reduce the secretion and invasion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in prostate tissue. In EAP mice, ISL treatment also reduced oxidative stress (OS) and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. In vitro, ISL upregulated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation in RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Treatment with ISL treatment relieved prostate inflammation and pelvic pain in EAP mice. Both in vivo and in vitro, ISL treatment activated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling, which in turn inhibited oxidative stress and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Blockade of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling abolished the inhibitory effects of ISL on oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Isoliquiritigenin reduced experimental autoimmune prostatitis by facilitating Nrf2 activation and suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. • Isoliquiritigenin treatment improved prostate inflammation and pelvic pain in EAP mice. • Isoliquiritigenin treatment can decrease the secretion and invasion of pro/inflammatory cytokines in prostate tissue. • Isoliquiritigenin treatment can activate Nrf2/HO-1 signaling, which in turn inhibits the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Two glycosyltransferase genes belonging to UGT88 family were identified to have 6ʹ-deoxychalcone 4ʹ-glucosyltransferase activity in dahlia. 6ʹ-Deoxychalcones (isoliquiritigenin and butein) are important pigments for yellow and orange to red flower color. 6ʹ-Deoxychalcones are glucosylated at the 4ʹ-position in vivo, but the genes encoding 6ʹ-deoxychalcone 4ʹ-glucosyltransferase have not yet been identified. In our previous study, it was indicated that snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) chalcone 4ʹ-O-glucosyltransferase (Am4ʹCGT) has isoliquiritigenin 4ʹ-glucosylation activity. Therefore, to identify genes encoding 6ʹ-deoxychalcone 4ʹ-glucosyltransferase in dahlia (Dahlia variabilis), genes expressed in ray florets that shared high homology with Am4ʹCGT were explored. As a result, c34671_g1_i1 and c35662_g1_i1 were selected as candidate genes for 6ʹ-deoxychalcone 4ʹ-glucosyltransferases in dahlia. We conducted transient co-overexpression of three genes (c34671_g1_i1 or c35662_g1_i1, dahlia aldo-keto reductase1 (DvAKR1) or soybean (Glycine max) chalcone reductase5 (GmCHR5), and chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) MYB transcription factor (CaMYBA)) in Nicotiana benthamiana by agroinfiltration. Transient overexpression of c34671_g1_i1, DvAKR1, and CaMYBA resulted in increase in the accumulation of isoliquiritigenin 4ʹ-glucosides, isoliquiritigenin 4ʹ-O-glucoside, and isoliquiritigenin 4ʹ-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-glucoside]. However, transient overexpression of c35662_g1_i1, DvAKR1, and CaMYBA did not increase accumulation of isoliquiritigenin 4ʹ-glucosides. Using GmCHR5 instead of DvAKR1 showed similar results suggesting that c34671_g1_i1 has isoliquiritigenin 4ʹ-glucosyltransferase activity. In addition, we conducted co-overexpression of four genes (c34671_g1_i1, c35662_g1_i1 or Am4ʹCGT, DvAKR1 or GmCHR5, CaMYBA, and chalcone 3-hydroxylase from dahlia). Accumulation of butein 4ʹ-O-glucoside and butein 4ʹ-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-glucoside] was detected for c35662_g1_i1, suggesting that c35662_g1_i1 has butein 4ʹ-glucosyltransferase activity. Recombinant enzyme analysis also supported butein 4ʹ-glucosyltransferases activity of c35662_g1_i1. Therefore, our results suggested that both c34671_g1_i1 and c35662_g1_i1 are 6ʹ-deoxychalcone 4ʹ-glucosyltransferases but with different substrate preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies have shown that Astragalus membranaceus (AM) and its active ingredients astragalus polysaccharides, oninon, and astragalus methyl glycosides can attenuate X-ray radiation-induced injury. However, there are no studies on how isoliquiritigenin (ISL) attenuate the bystander effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) induced by carbon ion radiation therapy for lung cancer. This study aimed to investigate the AM-derived small molecule ISL to enhance radiotherapy sensitivity by attenuating the carbon ion radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE) in BMSCs to elucidate its mechanism of action. In this study, we established a C57BL/6 mouse lung cancer transplantation tumor model in vivo and a co-culture model of A549 cells and BMSCs in vitro, and the models were successfully treated with carbon ions. In further work, we used flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), inhibitor, short hairpin RNA (shRNA), Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and other methods to illustrate the mechanism. In the next experiments, we found that ISL combined with carbon ion radiotherapy had a significant anti-tumor effect and protected BMSCs from radiation damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of ISL in enhancing the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to radiotherapy and attenuating RIBE in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Traditional Chinese medicine combined with radiation therapy is a promising and innovative treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. These results establish a theoretical foundation for further clinical development of ISL as a potential radiosensitizer option.

The study examined the potential of minimizing the toxicity effects of carrageenan (CG) grafted with isoliquiritigenin (ILG), using zebrafish as a model. CG is a sulfated linear polysaccharide that possesses numerous biological activities such as antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antihyperlipidemic, anticoagulant, anticancer, and immunomodulatory. CG triggers inflammation, which may result in a variety of health issues, specifically when it is utilized in high doses, in large quantities, or over prolonged periods. ILG, a biologically active compound derived from flavonoids, exhibits antioxidant characteristics. Ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) serves as a redox initiator in the co-polymerization process to successfully graft CG with ILG. CG-ILG conjugation is analyzed using SEM, FTIR, UV, and fluorescence spectra. Further, the toxicity effects of CG and CG-ILG are evaluated using zebrafish embryos at different concentrations. At 72 hpf, CG demonstrated toxicity above 0.4 µg/mL, whereas CG-ILG showed no significant toxicity up to 0.8 µg/mL. Thus, results indicate CG-ILG possesses low toxicity in comparison to CG, and the grafting of ILG successfully minimized the toxicity effects of CG. Using the ToxTrac software, a substantial decrease (P

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of Epimedium brevicornu Maxim. (EBM, Yin Yang Huo) on breast cancer using network pharmacology and in vitro validation. It also aimed to explore the novel targets and mechanisms of EBM in the treatment of breast cancer to facilitate the discovery of new drugs and their clinical application. Methods: Network pharmacology was used to identify and screen the components and targets of EBM for breast cancer treatment. Molecular docking was further screened the effective components and targets of EBM. Wound-healing assays and flow cytometry analysis were used to detect the ability of two compounds to intervene in the migration and apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells, and their mechanism of action was further explored using western blotting experiments. Results: EBM contained 19 active components. Among them were β-anhydroicaritin (Anhy) and isoliquiritigenin (Iso), which were selected for in vitro experiments. Treatment resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of MDA-MB-231 cell viability, with an IC50 of 23.73 μmol/L for Iso and 21.28 μmol/L for Anhy. In the wound healing assay, cells in Anhy and Iso groups exhibited considerable inhibition of migration at 48 h. In flow cytometry analysis, treatment with Iso (20 μmol/L) for 96 h resulted in significantly higher levels of both early and late apoptosis in the Iso group than that in the control group (P = .004 and P = .014, respectively). Additionally, both Iso (20 μmol/L) and Anhy (10 and 20 μmol/L) induced cell necrosis at 96 h. Western blotting revealed that Anhy and Iso increased the expression of Bax and TBK1/NAK. Conclusion: These findings suggested that Anhy and Iso, the two components of EBM, inhibit MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and migration of and induce their apoptosis, providing substantial support for future studies on breast cancer.

AbstractHerein, a high-sensitive electrochemical sensor based upon a multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified screen-printed carbon electrode (MWCNTs-SPCE) was constructed for the determination of isoliquiritigenin (ISL). The electrochemical properties of ISL on the MWCNTs-SPCE were investigated systematically and a fast and cost-effective method for the determination of ISL was successfully established. A clear irreversible oxidation peak of the ISL was observed at 0.3 V (versus Ag/AgCl) on the MWCNTs-SPCE. The oxidation of ISL on MWCNTs-SPCE was an adsorption reaction accompanied by diffusion. Using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), we observed that the oxidation peak current of the ISL in phosphate buffer (pH 7) showed a linear relationship from 0.50 to 100 µg/mL and a detection limit of 0.10 µg/mL. This method displayed good repeatability and stability, as well as exhibited excellent selectivity for ISL. Also, we successfully applied the method to determine ISL in Chinese herbal medicine licorice. Validation of the analyses via spike assays showed a recovery rate ranging from 95.39 to 101.00%, which was consistent with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Anthracyclines including doxorubicin are essential components of many cancer chemotherapy regimens, but their cardiotoxicity severely limits their use. New strategies for treating anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) are still needed. Anthracycline-induced DNA double-strand break (DSB) is the major cause of its cardiotoxicity. However, DSB-based drug screening for AIC has not been performed possibly due to the limited throughput of common assays for detecting DSB. To discover new therapeutic candidates for AIC, here we established a method to rapidly visualize and accurately evaluate the intranuclear anthracycline-induced DSB, and performed a screening for DSB inhibitors. Results First, we constructed a cardiomyocyte cell line stably expressing EGFP-53BP1, in which the formation of EGFP-53BP1 foci faithfully marked the doxorubicin-induced DSB, providing a faster and visible approach to detecting DSB. To quantify the DSB, we used a deep learning-based image analysis method, which showed the better ability to distinguish different cell populations undergoing different treatments of doxorubicin or reference compounds, compared with the traditional threshold-based method. Subsequently, we applied the deep learning-assisted high-content screening method to 315 compounds and found three compounds (kaempferol, kaempferide, and isoliquiritigenin) that exert cardioprotective effects in vitro. Among them, the protective effect of isoliquiritigenin is accompanied by the up-regulation of HO-1, down-regulation of peroxynitrite and topo II, and the alleviation of doxorubicin-induced DSB and apoptosis. The results of animal experiments also showed that isoliquiritigenin maintained the myocardial tissue structure and cardiac function in vivo. Moreover, isoliquiritigenin did not affect the killing of HeLa and MDA-MB-436 cancer cells by doxorubicin and thus has the potential to be a lead compound to exert cardioprotective effects without affecting the antitumor effect of doxorubicin. Conclusions Our findings provided a new method for the drug discovery for AIC, which combines phenotypic screening with artificial intelligence. The results suggested that isoliquiritigenin as an inhibitor of DSB may be a promising drug candidate for AIC.

Abstract To investigate the protective efficacy of ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) combined with Isoliquiritigenin on myocardial injury in rats. The GK rat model of cardiomyopathy was successfully established by the induction of adriamycin. Then these rats with cardiomyopathy were randomly assigned into the model group, isoliquiritigenin microbubbles and ultrasound alone or combination group, using healthy ones as normal control. After 8-week consecutive treatment, the relevance indexes of diabetes, echocardiography as well as the hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress of model animals were examined. In addition, the fibrosis, morphological changes and inflammation response of myocardial tissues were also assessed. After further 4-week intervention, the blood biochemical indexes and the cardiac functions of model rats received the combined treatment were improved (all P

Introduction: Malaria control is hindered by drug-resistant parasites, leading to a shortage of effective drugs. There is a need to find new, better antimalarial drug. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are more accessible and cheaper alternative for combating resistance in the treatment of malaria, therefore the anti-malarial efficacy of root extracts and isolated phytomolecules from Glycyrrhiza glabra L was assessed. Methods: The anti-plasmodial potential of root extracts and isolated phytomolecules from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. was assessed using the Giemsa staining method. In- vivo, antimalarial efficacy was evaluated by conducting a four-day suppression test in a mouse model. The mechanistic studies of ISL were carried out using caspase-like activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay. Further, proteomics analysis was carried out by LC-MS/MS. The interaction of the combinations was evaluated using the fixed ratio method by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC). Results: Extracts of G. glabra contain Phytomolecule(s) with moderate anti-plasmodial activity against multidrug-resistant strain (K1) of P. falciparum. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) exhibited a significant reduction in parasitemia, resulting in an enhancement of the mean survival time in Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infected mice. ISL showed potent activity with no cytotoxic effect and increased caspase-3 activity, leading increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and loss of mitochondrial potential. ISL also displayed synergy with chloroquine, glabridin and liquiritigenin against multi-drug-resistant P. falciparum. Discussion: The present study found ISL to be a potential phytomolecule of G. glabra. The study explored the mechanism of action of ISL and suggested its suitability for further study in managing drug-resistant malaria.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a flavonoid phytoestrogen, has shown anti-tumour activities against various cancers. However, its anti-CRC mechanism has not been clarified. In this study, the potential molecular mechanism of ISL against CRC was investigated through network pharmacological prediction and experimental validation. The results of the network prediction indicate that ESR2, PIK3CG and GSK3β might be the key targets of ISL against CRC, which was verified by molecular docking, and that its anti-tumour mechanisms might be related to the oestrogen and PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. The experimental results show that ISL reduced the viability of SW480 and HCT116 cells, induced apoptosis, blocked the cell cycle in the G2 phase in vitro, and suppressed xenograft tumour growth in vivo. In addition, ISL significantly down-regulated the protein expression of PIK3CG, AKT, p-AKT, p-GSK3β, CDK1, NF-κB and Bcl-2; up-regulated ESR2 and Bax; decreased the ratio of p-AKT/AKT and p-GSK3β/GSK3β; and increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. This study indicates that ISL can inhibit the growth of CRC cells and induce apoptosis, which may be related to the up-regulation of ESR2 and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) on high glucose (HG)-induced glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and inflammation, and the underlying mechanisms. Mouse GMCs (SV40-MES-13) were cultured in HG medium, with or without ISL. The proliferation of GMCs was determined by MTT assay. The production of proinflammatory cytokines was detected by qRT-PCR and ELISA. The expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), TGF-β1, collagen IV, and fibronectin was measured by qRT-PCR and western blot. The phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 was examined by western blot. Next, JAK2 inhibitor AG490 was applied to HG-exposed GMCs. The levels of JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation and pro-fibrotic markers were analyzed by western blot, and the secretion of TNF-α and IL-1β was evaluated by ELISA. GMCs were treated with HG, HG plus ISL or HG plus ISL, and recombinant IL-6 (rIL-6) which is a JAK2 activator. The levels of JAK2/STAT3 activation, ECM formation, and proinflammatory cytokines secretion were determined by western blot and ELISA, respectively. In mouse GMCs, ISL successfully repressed HG-induced hyperproliferation; production of TNF-α and IL-1β; expression of CTGF, TGF-β1, collagen IV, and fibronectin; and activation of JAK2/STAT3. Similar to ISL, AG490 was able to reverse the inflammation and ECM generation caused by HG. Moreover, rIL-6 impeded the amelioration of ISL on HG-induced adverse effects. Our study demonstrated that ISL displayed preventive effects on HG-exposed GMCs through inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 pathway and provided an insight into the application of ISL for diabetic nephropathy (DN) treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A new series of oxazole linked pyrazole chalcone derivatives (9 a–j) has been developed, prepared and tested for in vitro anticancer activity against SiHa, A549, MCF‐7, and Colo‐205 cancer cell lines with etoposide employed as a positive control. The IC50 values of the synthesized compounds vary from 0.01±0.0081 μM to 11.6±6.10 μM, while the IC50 values of the positive control range from 0.14±0.017 μM to 3.11±0.11 μM, respectively. Six compounds such as 9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d, 9 i, and 9 j have showed more potent activity than the others. Based on the docking simulations conducted on Human Topoisomerase II, it is evident that compounds 9 a, 9 b, 9 c, and 9 d exhibited superior binding affinity and interaction profiles compared to other compounds analyzed in this in silico study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin (CP) is a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat solid tumors. However, studies have revealed its nephrotoxic effect. Oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction are involved in CP‐induced renal damage. Thus, preconditioning (hormetic effect) of ER stress is a strategy to prevent CP‐induced renal damage. On the other hand, isoliquiritigenin (IsoLQ) is recognized as a flavonoid with antioxidant properties and an inducer of ER stress. Therefore, we evaluated the ER stress‐inducing capacity of IsoLQ and its possible protective effect against CP‐induced nephrotoxicity in adult male Wistar rats. The findings reflected that IsoLQ pretreatment might decrease renal damage by reducing plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels in animals with CP‐induced nephrotoxicity. These may be associated with IsoLQ activating ER stress and unfolded protein response (UPR). We found increased messenger RNA levels of the ER stress marker glucose‐related protein 78 kDa (GRP78). In addition, we also found that pretreatment with IsoLQ reduced the levels of CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein‐homologous protein (CHOP) and X‐box‐binding protein 1 (XBP1) in the renal cortex, reflecting that IsoLQ can regulate the UPR and activation of the apoptotic pathway. Moreover, this preconditioning with IsoLQ of ER stress had oxidative stress‐regulatory effects, as it restored the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzymes. Finally, IsoLQ modifies the protein expression of mitofusin 2 (Mfn‐2) and voltage‐dependent anion channel (VDAC). In conclusion, these data suggest that IsoLQ pretreatment has a nephroprotective effect; it could functionally regulate the ER and mitochondria and reduce CP‐induced renal damage by attenuating hormesis‐mediated ER stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oncoprotein survivin plays a pivotal role in controlling cell division and preventing apoptosis by inhibiting caspase activation. Its significant contribution to tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance has been well established. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a natural compound, has been recognized for its powerful inhibitory effects against various tumors. However, whether ISL exerts regulatory effects on survivin and its underlying mechanism in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. Here, we found that ISL inhibited the viability and colony formation of OSCC, and promoted their apoptosis. The immunoblotting data showed that ISL treatment significantly decreased survivin expression. Mechanistically, ISL suppressed survivin phosphorylation on Thr34 by deregulating Akt-Wee1-CDK1 signaling, which facilitated survivin for ubiquitination degradation. ISL inhibited CAL27 tumor growth and decreased p-Akt and survivin expression in vivo. Meanwhile, survivin overexpression caused cisplatin resistance of OSCC cells. ISL alone or combined with cisplatin overcame chemoresistance in OSCC cells. Overall, our results revealed that ISL exerted potent inhibitory effects via inducing Akt-dependent survivin ubiquitination in OSCC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effect of isoliquiritigenin on inflammatory response of vascular endothelial cells and whether the regulatory effect of isoliquiritigenin on inflammation is mediated by histone deacetylase 3(HDAC3). Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were cultured in vitro and treated with LPS, different concentrations of isoliquiritigenin and HDAC3 specific inhibitor, respectively. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines and HDAC3. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into vehicle group and isoliquiritigenin treatment group. The vascular inflammation model of C57BL/6J mice was established by ligation of the left carotid arteries. The mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines and HDAC3 in the carotid arteries of mice were detected by Real-time PCR. A molecular docking study was performed to investigate the interaction between isoliquiritigenin and HDAC3. Results Compared with the vehicle group, isoliquiritigenin reduced the mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18, MCP-1 and ICAM-1 and decreased the expression of HDAC3 mRNA and protein in HUVECs stimulated with LPS. In addition, isoliquiritigenin also decreased the mRNA expressions of NLRP3, IL-1β and HDAC3 in carotid arteries of ligated C57BL/6J mice. The docking of isoliquiritigenin in the active site of HDAC3 showed that isoliquiritigenin might act through HDAC3. Furthermore, HDAC3 specific inhibitor RGFP966 further promoted the inhibitory effect of isoliquiritigenin on the expression of inflammatory cytokines in vascular endothelial cells. Conclusion These results suggest that isoliquiritigenin suppresses the inflammatory response of vascular endothelial cells via HDAC3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Isoliquiritigenin, one of the components in the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra L., is a member of the flavonoids, which are known to have anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, called statins, are used to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels. Material and methods: HMG-CoA reductase activity was determined according to the method described by Takahashi et al. The structure of human HMG-COA reductase in the resolution of 2.22 Å with the X-ray diffraction method (PDB ID: 1HWK) was obtained from the PDB database. Results: In our study, the inhibitory activity of isoliquiritigenin towards HMG-CoA reductase showed a lower value of IC50 = 193.77 ±14.85 µg/ml. For a better understanding of biological activities and interactions, the molecular docking study was performed. The results of molecular docking revealed that isoliquiritigenin with a docking score of -6.740 has a strong binding affinity to HMG-COA reductase. Therefore, this compound could be considered as a potential inhibitor for the enzyme. Also, the activity of isoliquiritigenin against common human pancreatic acinar cell tumor cell lines, i.e. 266-6, TGP49, and TGP47, was evaluated. Conclusions: The cells treated with isoliquiritigenin were assessed by MTT assay for 48 h as regards the cytotoxicity and anti-human pancreatic acinar cell tumor properties in normal (HUVEC) and human pancreatic acinar cell tumor cell lines, i.e. 266-6, TGP49, and TGP47. The IC50 values of isoliquiritigenin were 262, 389, and 211 µg/ml against 266-6, TGP49, and TGP47 cell lines, respectively. The viability of the human pancreatic acinar cell tumor cell line decreased dose-dependently in the presence of isoliquiritigenin. After clinical study, isoliquiritigenin can be utilized as an efficient drug in the treatment of human pancreatic acinar cell tumor in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Amiodarone (AM) is a drug commonly used in patients with ventricular arrhythmias. It can damage vascular endothelial cells and easily cause phlebitis. At present, the prevention and treatment of phlebitis induced by the use of AM is not clear due to the lack of corresponding primary research. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) has an anti‐inflammatory effect, but until now, has not been explored much in the field of research in primary care nursing. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of action of ISL in treating phlebitis induced by AM. Methods: In our study, we used human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) that were divided into three groups: the NC group (normal), the AM group (AM 30 μmol/L for 24 h), and the ISL pretreatment group (isoliquiritigenin 10 μmol/L after 1 h of pretreatment with amiodarone for 24 h). We used CCK‐8 to detect cell proliferation, cell scratch assay to detect the migration capability of cells, flow cytometry to measure apoptosis, angiogenesis assay to check the total length and total branches of angiogenesis, and PCR and WB to detect the expression of PCNA, casepase‐3, and VEGFA. WB was used to detect NF‐κBp65 and p‐NF‐κBp65 expression. Results: Compared with the AM group, the ISL pretreatment promoted cell proliferation and migration, inhibited cell apoptosis, increased the total length and total branches of angiogenesis, and downregulated p‐NF‐κBp65 expression. Conclusion: ISL shows promise in the prevention and treatment of clinical phlebitis and can be used as a potential therapeutic drug to prevent phlebitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]