High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is upregulated in nearly every tumor type. Importantly, clinical evidence also proposed that HMGB1 is particularly increased in metastatic prostate cancer patients. Besides, a growing number of studies highlighted that HMGB1 could be a successful therapeutic target for prostate cancer patients. Glycyrrhizin is a novel pharmacological inhibitor of HMGB1 that may repress prostate cancer metastasis. This research was aimed to investigate the effect of glycyrrhizin on inhibition of HMGB1-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key step of tumor metastasis, in prostate cancer cells. In this study, HMGB1 knock-downed DU145 prostate cancer cells were used. Silencing the HMGB1 gene expression triggered a change of cell morphology to a more epithelial-like shape, which was accompanied by a reduction of Cdc42/GSK-3β/Snail and induction of E-cadherin levels estimated by immunoblotting. Furthermore, HMGB1 facilitated cell migration and invasion via downstream signaling, whereas HMGB1 targeting by 10 mM ethyl pyruvate effectively inhibited EMT characteristics. Interestingly, cell migration capacity induced by HMGB1 in DU145 cells was abolished in a dose-dependent effect of 25-200 μM glycyrrhizin treatment. In conclusion, glycyrrhizin successfully inhibited HMGB1-induced EMT phenomenon, which suggested that glycyrrhizin may serves as a therapeutic agent for metastatic prostate cancer.
Not for me, alas. I'm still trying to figure out why my blood pressure is misbehaving. Never occurred when I had testosterone. LOL
Licorice "stimulates protective factors in the digestive tract, which soothes and supports the lining of the stomach and intestines." However, glycyrrhizin raises blood pressure.
Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Extract [DGL] has a minimal amount of glycyrrhizin - good for the gut but not much use against PCa.
Monitor blood pressure if using licorice.
I knew many, growing up in England, who were licorice addicts. My local 'sweet shop' sold the root - 2 sticks for a peny in the late 1950s. You could chew on one all day & there would still be flavor left.
Common side effects of licorice include:
Absence of a menstrual period
Congestive heart failure
Decreased sexual interest (libido)
Erectile dysfunction
Excess fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema)
Fluid and sodium retention
Headache
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Hypertensive encephalopathy
Hypokalemic myopathy
Lethargy
Low potassium levels (hypokalemia)
Mineralocorticoid effects
Muscle wasting
Myoglobinuria
Occasionally brain damage in otherwise healthy people
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.