Research Reveals Licorice Compound Combats Pancreatic Cancer

Scientists from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have recently discovered that a flavonoid found in licorice root has the potential to inhibit the progression of pancreatic cancer. This compound may also enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs used to treat the disease, making it a promising option for patients.

Pancreatic cancer is particularly devastating due to its aggressive nature and high mortality rate. Symptoms are often unnoticed until the cancer has advanced, making it difficult to treat. Surgical removal is usually not an option, and only a small percentage of patients are eligible for the procedure. Even for those who undergo surgery, the recurrence rate is high and complications are common.

The standard treatment for pancreatic cancer is chemotherapy, specifically using a drug called gemcitabine (GEM). However, this treatment often comes with serious side effects. This is why researchers at HKBU decided to explore licorice root as a potential source of medicine for pancreatic cancer.

Licorice root has been used medicinally for centuries and is known for its healing properties. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various health conditions and has also been used in the West for its anti-inflammatory properties. Licorice root contains multiple chemicals with medicinal properties, including isoliquiritigenin (ISL), the compound studied by the HKBU team.

The researchers found that ISL suppressed the growth of pancreatic cancer cells, inhibiting the progression of the disease. They also discovered that ISL combined with chemotherapy drugs had a higher growth inhibition rate compared to chemotherapy alone. This suggests that ISL could significantly enhance the effectiveness of conventional treatment.

The findings of this study offer new possibilities for the development of ISL as a novel treatment for pancreatic cancer. The researchers hope to collaborate with other research partners to further explore the effectiveness and potential clinical application of ISL in the treatment of this deadly disease.



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