Licochalcone H induces the apoptosis of human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells via regulation of matrin 3

Licochalcone H (LCH) is a chemical compound that is a positional isomer of licochalcone C (LCC), a chalconoid isolated from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata, which has various pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and anticancer effects. However, the efficacy of LCH on cancer cells has not been investigated. The present study examined the effects of LCH on cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and the regulation of matrin 3 (Matr3) protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells by Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining and western blot analysis. LCH reduced cell viability and colony forming ability, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HSC2 and HSC3 cells through the suppression of Matr3. It was also found that LCH directly bound to Matr3 in a Sepharose 4B pull-down assay. Consequently, the results of the present study suggest that LCH may be used as an anticancer drug in combination with conventional chemotherapy for the treatment of OSCC, and that Matr3 may be a potential effective therapeutic target.