Patients with the syndrome of apparent mineralocorticoid excess and those who ingest licorice show markedly decreased 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-OHSD) and 5 beta-reductase activity; both are important for the deactivation of glucocorticoids and other steroid hormones. Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), present as its glycoside in licorice, is a potent inhibitor of both 11 beta-OHSD an...