Toxicological Research

Korean Society of Toxicology & Korea Environmental Mutagen Society (한국독성학회)
권호 표지

Pharmalogical Effects and Toxicity of Licorice

감초의 효능과 독성

  • 박영철 (계명대학교 전통미생물자원개발 및 산업화연구센터) ;
  • 이선동 (상지대학교 한의과대학) ;
  • 이인선 (계명대학교 전통미생물자원개발 및 산업화연구센터)
  • Published : 2002.09.01
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Abstract

Licorice has been wed in clinical medicine for thousands of years. However it is only in recent times that we have been able to employ scientific methods to prove its efficacy and to give us a better understanding of its mechanism of action. One of important mechanisms for its efficacy is related to mineralocorticoid activity increased by glycyrrhizic acid, the active ingredient in licorice. Also the main undesirable side-effects of Licorice relate to is mineralocorticoid activity resulting in a state of apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME). These therapeutic and undesirable effects are explained by the inhibition of 11-$\beta$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-$\beta$-HSD) activity. Recently, the reduction of serum testosterone in men by licorice was reported which would have important health implications in the context of fertility and sexual dysfunction. Here, health implication of licorice were reviewed In term of its pharmacodynamic and toxicodynamic mechanism.

Keywords

References

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