Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of glycyrrhizin on oral squamous cancer cells Tca8113 apoptosis. Methods Tca8113 cells were treated with different concentrations of glycyrrhizin (0, 10, 20, 40 or 80μmol/L), cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V-FITC double staining using flow cytometry. The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 staining. The protein expression of cytochrome C was measured by western blotting. Results Compared with control group, Glycyrrhizin concentration-dependently inhibited cell growth（P<0.05), increased Tca8113 cell apoptosis（P<0.05) and significantly decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential（P<0.05). Moreover, the cytochrome C was translocated from mitochondria to cytoplasm（P<0.05). Conclusions glycyrrhizin increases Tca8113 cell apoptosis through mitochondria-dependent pathway.

Key words: Glycyrrhizin, oral squamous cancer cells Tca8113, apoptosis, mitochondria