Effect of glycyrrhizic acid and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid on the differentiation of human umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes

Figure 7 Glycogen detection in treated human umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells by periodic acid Schiff staining. Bright-field images of A: untreated control showing negative periodic acid Schiff staining (PAS); B: MSCs treated with glycyrrhizic acid (GA); C: 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GT); and D: GA+GT (combination group) at day 21 showing PAS positive cells stained as purple-pink, indicating the presence of glycogen in their cytoplasm. Bi-nucleated cells (a hepatocyte characteristic) were also observed. Images were taken at 40× magnification.