Licorice derived from the roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (Fabaceae), is one of the most widely-used traditional herbal medicines in China. It has been reported to possess significant analgesic activity for treating spastic pain. The aim of this study is to investigate the spasmolytic molecular mechanism of licorice on oxytocin-induced uterine contractions and predict the rel...

We describe an unusual case of severe hypokalemia with electrocardiographic changes, due to licorice consumption, in a 15-year-old female student with no previous medical history. Prompt replacement of potassium and cessation of licorice ingestion resulted in a favourable outcome. We also discuss the pathophysiology and diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of a detailed anamnesis to rule out a...

The traditional medicine licorice is the most widely consumed herbal product in the world. Although much research work on studying the changes in the active compounds of licorice has been reported, there are still many areas, such as the dynamic accumulation of secondary metabolites in licorice, that need to be further studied. In this study, the secondary metabolites from licorice under two di...

Typical adverse effects of Shakuyaku-kanzo-To (SKT), an herbal medicine containing licorice, is a licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism with hypokalemia and hypertension. The risk factors for this side effect are still unclear. To identify the risk factors, we surveyed 37 cases of licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism in the literature and serum potassium levels in our patients receiving SKT and ...

Licorice has been used in Chinese folk medicine for the treatment of various disorders. Licorice has the biological capabilities of detoxication, antioxidation, and antiinfection. In this study, we evaluated the antihepatotoxic effect of licorice aqueous extract (LE) on the carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver injury in a rat model. Hepatic damage, as reveled by histology and the increas...

The history of licorice, as a medicinal plant, is very old and has been used in many societies throughout the millennia. The active principle, glycyrrhetinic acid, is responsible for sodium retention and hypertension, which is the most common side-effect. We show an effect of licorice in reducing body fat mass. We studied 15 normal-weight subjects (7 males, age 22-26 yr, and 8 females, age 21-2...

Licorice (Gancao in Chinese) has been used worldwide as a botanical source in medicine and as a sweetening agent in food products for thousands of years. Triterpene saponins and flavonoids are its main ingredients that exhibit a variety of biological activities, including hepatoprotective, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anticancer effects among others. This review attempts to summa...

Licorice (or 'liquorice') is a plant of ancient origin and steeped in history. Licorice extracts and its principle component, glycyrrhizin, have extensive use in foods, tobacco and in both traditional and herbal medicine. As a result, there is a high level of use of licorice and glycyrrhizin in the US with an estimated consumption of 0.027-3.6 mg glycyrrhizin/kg/day. Both products have been app...

Licorice, the root of the Glycyrrhiza species, is one of the most frequently employed botanicals in traditional medicines. In this study, we investigated the effects of hydrophobic flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza glabra LINNE on abdominal fat accumulation and blood glucose level in obese diabetic KK-A(y) mice. In order to enrich a fraction of hydrophobic flavonoids, licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) was...

The effect of grapefruit juice and liqorice juice on salivary pharmacokinetics of paracetamol (acetaminophen, APAP) in 8 healthy subjects (4 males and 4 females) was investigated. Paracetamol tablet (500 mg) was administered to the volunteers with either 240 mL grapefruit juice, licorice juice or water followed by saliva samples collection at different time intervals in a sequential study desig...