Chemicals and Drugs

Glycyrrhizic Acid

A widely used anti-inflammatory agent isolated from the licorice root. It is metabolized to GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID, which inhibits 11-BETA-HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASES and other enzymes involved in the metabolism of CORTICOSTEROIDS. Therefore, glycyrrhizic acid, which is the main and sweet component of licorice, has been investigated for its ability to cause hypermineralocorticoidism with sodium retention and potassium loss, edema, increased blood pressure, as well as depression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A widely used anti-inflammatory agent isolated from the licorice root. It is metabolized to GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID, which inhibits 11-BETA-HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASES and other enzymes involved in the metabolism of CORTICOSTEROIDS. Therefore, glycyrrhizic acid, which is the main and sweet component of licorice, has been investigated for its ability to cause hypermineralocorticoidism with sodium retention and potassium loss, edema, increased blood pressure, as well as depression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C42H59O16-3
Molecular Weight
819.9 g/mol
IUPAC Name
(2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6S)-2-[[(3S,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aS,11S,12aR,14aR,14bS)-11-carboxylato-4,4,6a,6b,8a,11,14b-heptamethyl-14-oxo-2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14a-dodecahydro-1H-picen-3-yl]oxy]-6-carboxylato-4,5-dihydroxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxane-2-carboxylate
InChIKey
LPLVUJXQOOQHMX-QWBHMCJMSA-K
SMILES
C[C@]12CC[C@](C[C@H]1C3=CC(=O)[C@@H]4[C@]5(CC[C@@H](C([C@@H]5CC[C@]4([C@@]3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O[C@@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)C(=O)[O-])O)O)O[C@H]7[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O7)C(=O)[O-])O)O)O)C)(C)C(=O)[O-]
MeSH Unique ID
D019695
Source
PubChem CID 5460305

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

10 entry terms
  • Glycyrrhizin
  • Glycyrrhizinic Acid
  • Acid, Glycyrrhizic
  • Acid, Glycyrrhizinic
  • Diammonium Glycyrrhizinate
  • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate
  • Zinc Glycyrrhizate
  • Glycyrrhizate, Zinc
  • Glycyrrhizinate, Diammonium
  • Glycyrrhizinate, Dipotassium

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

25 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

do not confuse with GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID

MeSH Record

History Note

98; see GLYCYRRHIZIC ACID (NM) 1976-97

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid (1977-1997)
  • Glycyrrhiza (1976-1985)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. D02w.455w.849w.919w.530.466

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Glycyrrhizic Acid. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D019695. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D019695
  2. Glycyrrhizic Acid. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27104090
  3. Glycyrrhizic Acid. In: PubChem Compound. CID 5460305. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5460305