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Planta Med 1983; 48(5): 38-42
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-969875
Research Articles

© Hippokrates Verlag Stuttgart

Metabolism of Glycyrrhizin by Human Intestinal Flora

Masao Hattori1 , Tatsuya Sakamoto1 , Kyoichi Kobashi2 , Tsuneo Namba1
  • 1Research Institute for Wakan-Yaku (Oriental Medicines), Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan
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Publication History

1982

1982

Publication Date:
26 March 2007 (online)

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Abstract

During the course of experiments on the metabolism of Chinese crude drugs by human intestinal flora, glycyrrhizin, an active component of liquorice, was shown to be hydrolyzed to the aglycone, 18-β-glycyrrhetic acid, which was then transformed to a new compound, 3-epi-18β-glycyrrhetic acid. The epimerization of 18β-glycyrrhetic acid to 3-epi-18β-glycyrrhetic acid was also shown to be reversible via a metabolic intermediate, 3-dehydro-18β-glycyrrhetic acid.

Key Word Index

Glycyrrhiza glabra - Leguminosae - Glycyrrhizin - 18β-Glycyrrhetic acid - 3-Epi-18β-glycyrrhetic acid - 3-Dehydro-18β-glycyrrhetic acid - Metabolism - Intestinal Flora

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