MOLECULE

Isoliquiritigenin

Isoliquiritigenin, also known as 6'-deoxychalcone or GU 17, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 2'-hydroxychalcones. These are organic compounds containing chalcone skeleton that carries a hydroxyl group at the 2'-position. Thus, isoliquiritigenin is considered to be a flavonoid lipid molecule. Isoliquiritigenin is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble (in water), and relatively neutral. Isoliquiritigenin is a bitter tasting compound. Outside of the human body, Isoliquiritigenin has been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as java plums, tea leaf willows, sweet marjorams, common grapes, and black mulberries. This could make isoliquiritigenin a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. Isoliquiritigenin is a phenolic chemical compound found in licorice. Isoliquiritigenin has been found to be a potent (65 times higher affinity than diazepam) GABA-A benzodiapine receptor positive allosteric modulator. The enzyme 6'-deoxychalcone synthase uses malonyl-CoA, 4-coumaroyl-CoA, NADPH, and H+ to produce CoA, isoliquiritigenin, CO2, NADP+, and H2O.The enzyme isoliquiritigenin 2'-O-methyltransferase further transforms isoliquiritigenin into 2'-O-methylisoliquiritigenin. It can target miR-301b/LRIG1 signaling pathways, resulting in the inhibition of melanoma growth in vitro. Isoliquiritigenin is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.