Licochalcone-A, a flavonoid of alcaçuz: evaluation of chemopreventive potential

• Grant number: 17/06070-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Denise Crispim Tavares Barbosa
• Grantee: Karoline Soares de Freitas
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Licochalcona-A is a flavonoid extracted from the root of some species of plants of the genus Glycyrrhiza, originating in China, such as G. uralensis, G. glabra and G. inflata. These plants, commonly called licorice, are widely used in traditional medicine in China and, because of their sweet taste, they are used in the food industry in Europe and Asia. The literature reports that licochalcona-A has antiparasitic, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial activities. Considering the biological properties of this compound, the present study aims to evaluate the chemopreventive potential of licochalcone-A on the genotoxicity induced by the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin through the micronucleus test in peripheral blood of Swiss mice. The possible protective effect of the flavonoid will also be studied on pre-neoplastic colon lesions of Wistar rats induced by the carcinogen 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. In addition, the systemic toxicity of the treatments will be evaluated by analyzing biochemical markers such as alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in Swiss and Wistar rats. The results obtained will contribute to a better understanding of the action of licochalcone-A in the human organism.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE FREITAS, KAROLINE SOARES; SQUARISI, IARA SILVA; ACESIO, NATHALIA OLIVEIRA; NICOLELLA, HELOIZA DINIZ; OZELIN, SAULO DUARTE; REIS SANTOS DE MELO, MATHEUS; GUISSONE, ANA PAULA PRADO; FERNANDES, GABRIELA; SILVA, LIVIA MARA; DA SILVA FILHO, ADEMAR ALVES; et al. Licochalcone A, a licorice flavonoid: antioxidant, cytotoxic, genotoxic, and chemopreventive potential. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH-PART A-CURRENT ISSUES, v. 83, n. 21-22, SEP 2020. (17/06070-1, 16/22863-9)