Glycyrol induces apoptosis in human Jurkat T cell lymphocytes via the Fas-FasL/caspase-8 pathway.

Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Leguminosae) has long been used to treat inflammatory ailments, such as gastric ulcers, arthritis, and rheumatism. From this traditional herbal plant, glycyrol, a coumestan with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, was first isolated and synthesized to test its apoptosis-inducing properties in human Jurkat cells. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that glycyrol can arrest the cell cycle in S phase and subsequently induce apoptosis in both time- and dose-dependent manners. Consequently, it was shown that caspase-8 and -9 were involved in the activation of apoptosis after glycyrol treatment. Despite its known NF- κB inhibitory activity, glycyrol did not influence the prosurvival Bcl-2 and the proapoptotic Bax. Interestingly, glycyrol was revealed to enhance the Fas level independently from p53, which even slightly decreased. Thus, glycyrol acts in a similar manner as known cytostatic drugs and may have a potential as lead for the development of drugs for cancer treatment.