FREE NEJM E-TOC    HOME   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES   |   COLLECTIONS   |   Search Term  Advanced Search

Sign in | Get NEJM's E-Mail Table of Contents — Free | Subscribe

Previous Volume 341:1158 October 7, 1999 Number 15 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

	Full Text Purchase this article Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited PubMed Citation

To the Editor: Extracts of licorice root are widely used in many countries as flavoring agents, breath fresheners, or candy. The active component of licorice is glycyrrhizic acid, which is hydrolyzed in vivo to glycyrrhetinic acid. The well-known mineralocorticoid-like effect of licorice results from the inhibition of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of cortisol to cortisone, thereby minimizing the binding of cortisol to mineralocorticoid receptors.¹ Licorice may also directly activate mineralocorticoid receptors.² In vitro, licorice can block 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone.³

We evaluated the effect of licorice on gonadal function in . . . [Full Text of this Article]

References

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Fukui, M., Kitagawa, Y., Nakamura, N., Yoshikawa, T. (2003). Glycyrrhizin and Serum Testosterone Concentrations in Male Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 26: 2962-2962 [Full Text]  
• Piersen, C. E. (2003). Phytoestrogens in Botanical Dietary Supplements: Implications for Cancer. Integr Cancer Ther 2: 120-138 [Abstract]  
• Olukoga, A., Donaldson, D. (2000). Liquorice and its health implications. The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health 120: 83-89 [Abstract]