Glycyrrhiza Radix Et Rhizoma

Isoliquiritigenin(ILTG), a flavonoid constituent in the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, has vasorelaxant effect, anti-platelet, anti-allergic and antiviral activities, also has protective effects in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Liquiritigenin, an aglycone of liquiritin in G. radix , exerts cytoprotective effects against heavy metal-induced toxicity in vitro, can protect the liver from acute injuries induced by APAP or from APAP-induced severe injuries during GSH deficiency.

Glycyrrhetinic acid, a hydrolysis product of one of the main constituents of licorice, the triterpene glycoside of glycyrrhizic acid, when added to rat liver mitochondria at micromolar concentrations induces swelling, loss of membrane potential, pyridine nucleotide oxidation, and release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor; indicates that glycyrrhetinic acid is a potent inducer of mitochondrial permeability transition and can trigger the pro-apoptotic pathway.

Glycyrrhizic acid ammonium salt has wound healing activity.

Glycyrrhizic acid has immunoregulatory function,it(up to 100 mg/ml) can inhibit interleukin-6 and elevate interleukin-10 production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages, and significantly inhibit proliferation of spleen lymphocytes; rectally administered glycyrrhizic acid has significant protective effects against TNBS-induced colitis in rats.

Liquiritin, a flavone compound derived from Glycyrrhiza uralensis, it can effectively reverse alteration in immobility time and sucrose consumption, can increase SOD activity, inhibit lipid peroxidation, and lessen production of MDA, demonstrates that a potential antidepressant-like effect of liquiritin treatment on chronic variable stress can induce depression model rats, which might be related to defense of liquiritin against oxidative stress.