Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/umls/id/C0770595
PDQ: The root of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra with potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antineoplastic activities. Licorice root contains the calcium and potassium salts of the glycoside glycerrhizinic acid (also known as glycyrrhizin) and numerous flavonoids. After hydrolysis from glycerrhizinic acid in vivo, glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) inhibits 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, resulting in inhibition of the conversion of cortisol to the inactive steroid cortisone, elevated cortisol levels, and increased binding of cortisol to mineralocorticoid receptors. In addition, GA inhibits 17,20-lyase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, resulting in decreased conversions of 17-hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione and androstenedione to testosterone. The primary antioxidant found in licorice root, the flavonoid glabridin, has been shown to inactivate or inhibit the activities of some human P450 enzymes in vitro. In some tumor cells, beta-hydroxy-DHP, another flavonoid found in licorice root, may induc