Trihydroxychalcone (Isoliquiritigenin, ISL) is a flavonoid found in licorice root and several other plants that displays antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and antitumor activities as well as hepatoprotection against steatosis-induced oxidative stress. Trihydroxychalcone is a potent antimetastatic agent, which can markedly inhibit the metastatic and invasive capacity of prostate cancer cells. The inhibition of JNK/AP-1 signaling may be one of the mechanisms by which ISL inhibits cancer cell invasion and migration. Trihydroxychalcone has been shown to be a BACE1 inhibitor, which could ameliorate memory impairment in mice, and is expected to be potentially used as a lead compound for further anti-AD reagent development.

Liquiritigenin is a plant-derived flavonoid isolated from the roots of plants belonging to licorice species (Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza inflate etc) and is available in common foods and alternative medicine. Liquiritigenin is one of the major active compounds of MF101, selective ER-beta agonist herbal extract of 22 botanical ingredients originally tested for reducing the frequency and severity of menopausal hot flashes. At sufficient concentrations, liquiritigenin is also a partial agonist of ER-alpha but has a 20-fold higher affinity for ER-beta than for ER-alpha. Several studies showed that liquiritigenin exerts cytoprotective effects against heavy metal-induced toxicity in cultured hepatocytes, has protective effects against liver injuries induced by acetaminophen and buthione sulfoximine in rats and has an anti-inflammatory effect in macrophages suggesting its potential therapeutic use for liver diseases. Liquiritigenin inhibits the activity of MAO A and B in rat brain mitochondria and displayed favorable properties as a specific transient receptor potential melastatin 3 (TRPM3) blocker. Anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects of liquiritigenin are related to its modulation of the activations of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) and was discovered, that this compound is a potential therapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.