Lee, Ji Hoon, Kim, Jong-Eun, Jang, Young Jin et al. · Molecular carcinogenesis · 2016 · DOI
This study examined a compound called dehydroglyasperin C (DGC) found in licorice root to see if it could prevent cancer by blocking harmful cell changes. Researchers used laboratory mouse cells and found that DGC stopped cells from transforming into cancer cells by interfering with two specific protein pathways (MKK4 and PI3K) that drive this process.
For ME/CFS patients, this research is relevant because chronic inflammation and dysregulated signaling pathways (like those involving PI3K and mitogen-activated protein kinases) have been implicated in ME/CFS pathophysiology. Understanding natural compounds that can modulate these inflammatory and cellular transformation pathways could inform investigation of supportive or preventive approaches, though direct ME/CFS research is needed.
This study does not demonstrate that DGC is effective in treating or preventing ME/CFS, as it used cancer cell transformation as a model system rather than ME/CFS-relevant disease mechanisms. The work is entirely in vitro and does not establish safety, efficacy, or appropriate dosing in humans. Licorice's traditional use for 'chronic fatigue syndrome' is mentioned only contextually; this study does not validate that connection.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Lee, Ji Hoon, Kim, Jong-Eun, Jang, Young Jin, Lee, Charles C, Lim, Tae-Gyu, Jung, Sung Keun, et al. (2016). Dehydroglyasperin C suppresses TPA-induced cell transformation through direct inhibition of MKK4 and PI3K.. Molecular carcinogenesis. https://doi.org/10.1002/mc.22302
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-lee-2016-dehydroglyasperin-suppresses,
author = {Lee, Ji Hoon and Kim, Jong-Eun and Jang, Young Jin and Lee, Charles C and Lim, Tae-Gyu and Jung, Sung Keun and Lee, Eunjung and Lim, Soon Sung and Heo, Yong Seok and Seo, Sang Gwon and Son, Joe Eun and Kim, Jong Rhan and Lee, Chang Yong and Lee, Hyong Joo and Lee, Ki Won},
title = {Dehydroglyasperin C suppresses TPA-induced cell transformation through direct inhibition of MKK4 and PI3K.},
journal = {Molecular carcinogenesis},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1002/mc.22302},
note = {PubMed: 25787879},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/lee-2016-dehydroglyasperin-suppresses},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/lee-2016-dehydroglyasperin-suppresses
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