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Effect of glycyrrhizin and its diastereoisomers on the growth of human tumour cells: preliminary findings
Author(s) -
Malagoli Monica,
Castelli Mario,
Baggio Andrea,
Cermelli Claudio,
Garuti Laura,
Rossi Tiziana
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(1998)12:1+<s95::aid-ptr262>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - glycyrrhizin , diastereomer , traditional medicine , chemistry , stereochemistry , medicine , pharmacology
It is known that some pentacyclic triterpenoids present in nature possess anti‐tumour activity. In a recent study we demonstrated that a prolonged glycyrrhizin treatment was effective in modifying the survival pattern of mice with Ehrlich ascites tumour. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that 18α‐glycyrrhetinic acid, 18β‐glycyrrhetinic acid and glycyrrhizin effectively inhibited the inception and growth of skin tumour. In an in vitro study these drugs also proved effective against the growth and differentiation of mouse melanoma cells. In this work we investigated the effect of 18α‐glycyrrhetinic acid, 18β‐glycyrrhetinic acid and glycyrrhizin on the growth of human tumour cells: two lymphomas and two leukaemias. The results were compared with those afforded by equimolecular doses of daunorubicin and showed that all three substances were fairly active, particulary against leukaemia cells. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.