Liquorice root

Abstract: During the last decade liquorice root (Radix Liquiritiae) attracted special attention for its main component glycyrrhicine or glycyrrhetic acid monoglucuronide, respectively, in causing pseudohyperaldosteronism. Pseudoaldosteronism is caused by the interaction of glycyrrhetic acid monoglucuronide with 11 -OH-steroidhydrogenase and 5ß-reductase. Consequently the breakdown of cortisole which binds to aldosterone receptors in the liver and kidneys is inhibited. However, hyperaldosteronism also causes some therapeutically useful effects.Aldosterone or interactions of aldosterone receptor agonists with aldosterone receptors, respectively, enhance the incorporation of riboflavine into FAD and FMN via the induction of flavokinases. FMN and FAD not only promote the resorption of sodium bat they are at the same time cofactors of glutathione reductase, an essential enzyme for the maintenance of the cellular antioxidative Potential in form of glutathione. Within the cell, glutathione is needed for the recycling process of ascorbic acid or for reducing dehydroascorbic acid to corbic acid. Through inhibition of tryptophane pyrrolase and tyrosine aminotransferase, both of which are induced by glucocorticoids, there could also be O reduction of the effects of cortisole on the metabolism of vitamins and minerals corresponding with a better bioavailability of zinc, vitamin C and the vitamins B6 and B2. The immunostimulating, antiviral, anticancerogenous, antiphlogistic, antihepatotoxic and choleretic effect of liquorice root con be interpreted as a correlate of the induction of the glutathione dependent adenosyl methionine transferase and of different methylation processes such as those of viroi and hu-

Keyword(s): Liquiritiae radix

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