Glycyrrhetinic acid triggers lipid peroxidation-related cell death in tobacco BY-2 cells

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a triterpenoid saponin from licorice (Glycyrrhiza species) exerts diverse biological activities in animal cells, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antitumor effects. However, the effects of GA on plant cells remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the effects of GA on tobacco BY-2 cells, a plant cell culture system that serves as a useful model for studying cell death in highly proliferative plant cells. Treatment of BY-2 cells with GA resulted in a significant increase in cell death in a manner dependent on both concentration and time. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying GA-induced cell death, we evaluated mitochondrial membrane potential and lipid peroxidation using fluorescent probes. GA treatment caused a marked decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, along with an increase in lipid peroxidation levels. These findings suggest that GA induces cell death in plant cultured cells, accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction and lipid peroxidation. Our results provide new insights into the biological activity of GA in plant cells and suggest the involvement of mitochondrial and lipid peroxidation-related pathways in GA-induced cell death.