Glycyrrhizic acid is extracted from the root of the licorice plant; Glycyrrhiza glabra. It is a triterpene glycoside with glycyrrhetinic acid that possesses a wide range of pharmacological and biological... When extracted from the plant, it can be obtained in the form of ammonium glycyrrhizin and mono-ammonium glycyrrhizin.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 4 references
Glycyrrhizic acid can be found in the alpha and beta forms. The alpha form is predominant in the liver and duodenum and thus, it is thought that the anti-inflammatory liver effect of this drug are mainly due to the action of this isomer. Glycyrrhizic acid anti-inflammatory effect is generated via suppression of TNF alpha and caspase 3. It also inhibits the translocation of NFkB into the nuclei and conjugates free radicals. Some studies have shown a glycyrrhizic-driven inhibition of CD4+ T cell proliferation via JNK, ERK and PI3K/AKT.
The antiviral activity of glycyrrhizic acid includes the inhibition of viral replication and immune regulation. The antiviral activity of glycyrrhizic acid seems to be of a broad spectrum and be able to cover several different viral types such as vaccinia virus, herpes simplex virus, Newcastle disease virus and vesicular stomatitis virus.
The effect of glycyrrhizic acid on metabolism is thought to be related to its inhibitory activity towards 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 which in turn decreases the activity of hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. On the other hand, some studies have shown a potential lipoprotein lipase induction in non-hepatic tissues and thus it is suggested to enhance dyslipidemic conditions.
- Primary indication
- Glycyrrhizic acid is widely applied in foods as a natural sweetener.Curator reviewed · 2 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C42H62O16 · 822.942 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 1999
- Also known as
- 18-beta-Glycyrrhizic acid · Glizigen · Glycyrrhizin
- Code names
- NSC-167409 · NSC-234419
Resolves to
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Which drugs share a target with Glycyrrhizic acid, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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