Echinatin (Retrochalcone) is extracted from licorice and is a natural chalcone. Echinatin has a wide range of biological activities including hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial infections, and attenuates lung damage.

METHODS: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells KYSE30 and KYSE270 were treated with Echinatin (10-40 µM) for 1-5 days and cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.
RESULTS: Echinatin significantly inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. [1]
METHODS: Human osteosarcoma cells 143B and MG63 were treated with Echinatin (30-50 µM) for 24 h. Cell cycle was measured by Flow cytometry.
RESULTS: Echinatin significantly increased the percentage of osteosarcoma cells in the S phase of the cell cycle. [2]

METHODS: To test the antitumor activity in vivo, Echinatin (20-50 mg/kg) was administered by gavage to nude mice bearing KYSE270 xenografts every two days for 14 days.
RESULTS: Tumor load was significantly suppressed, with a 57% and 48% reduction in the groups treated with 20 and 50 mg/kg Echinatin, respectively.Echinatin inhibited the AKT/mTOR pathway, as evidenced by a reduction in the expression levels of p-AKT and p-mTOR. [1]