Licochalcone A Induced Suicidal Death of Human Erythrocytes

The anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial Glycyrrhiza inflata extract component licochalcone A triggers apoptosis of tumor cells and is thus considered for the treatment of malignancy. Similar to apoptosis of nucleated cells, erythrocytes may enter eryptosis, the suicidal erythrocyte death characterized by cell shrinkage and cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine translocation to the erythrocyte surface. Signaling involved in the triggering of eryptosis includes Ca2+ entry with increase of cytosolic Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i), and ceramide. The present study explored, whether and how licochalcone A induces eryptosis.