Compound present in in style candy proven to inhibit most cancers progress in new examine
The investigation group at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) discovered isoliquiritigenin, a flavonoid remoted from liquorice, has anti-cancer properties.
Dr Joshua Ko Ka-Shun mentioned isoliquiritigenin “possesses a unique property of inhibiting pancreatic cancer progression through the blockade of autophagy”.
Dr Ko added: “The blockade of late-stage autophagy in our experiments results in cancer cell death.”
To examine the efficacy of isoliquiritigenin, present in liquorice, the scientists employed a mice tumour mode.
The mice, who got tumours, have been divided into three teams:
- Mice given the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine (GEM)
- Mice given isoliquiritigenin
- Control group, the place the mice weren’t given most cancers remedy.
In the isoliquiritigenin group, the mice have been divided into two sub-sections, handled with both 30mg/kg or 60mg/kg of isoliquiritigenin.
On the twenty first day of the experiment, the tumour volumes have been:
- Control group: 1,000 mm3
- GEM group: 400 mm3
- 30mg/kg isoliquiritigenin: 500 mm3
- 60mg/kg isoliquiritigenin: 300 mm3.
While isoliquiritigenin was proven to suppress tumour measurement, similar to present most cancers remedy, the compound additionally resulted in fewer negative effects.
The group famous that isoliquiritigenin had fewer negative effects in mice than GEM, together with fewer circumstances of anaemia and physique weight reduction.
Dr Ko mentioned: “The findings in this study open a new avenue for developing isoliquiritigenin as a novel autophagy inhibitor in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
“We hope to collaborate with different analysis companions to additional consider the effectiveness and potential medical software of isoliquiritigenin in treating pancreatic most cancers.”
Dr Ko is the Associate Professor of Teaching and Research Division of the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU.
The analysis has been revealed within the worldwide tutorial journal Phytomedicine.
These findings have been additionally offered on the Annual Congress of the European Association for Cancer Research 2023 in Torino, Italy.