Authors

Alfredo Serrano Ruiz

Position

Diplomado en Enfermería.

Contact address

Servicio de Farmacología Clínica. Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro. C/ San Martín de Porres, 4. 28035 Madrid.

Contact email: aserrano.hpth@salud.madrid.org

Abstract

Liquorice “Glycyrrhiza glabra” is a plant that has been used throughout history for its sweet taste and medicinal effects. The root is used to treat gingival inflammation, dyspepsia, esophagitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, respiratory disturbances, dysmenorrhoea and fever. The active ingredient is Glycirrhizina that changes into glycyrrhetinic acid in the intestine. When this acid is absorbed, it modifies some of the molecules that intervene in the metabolism of cortisol, increasing its activity on the target tissue. From this situation, some important adverse effects are derived such as sodium retention, hypokalemia, hypertension, metabolic alkalosis, rabdomyolisis and decreased rennin activity. Furthermore, there are several cases of low weight preterm births associated with the continued consumption of liquorice.

Keywords:

liquorice; glycyrrhine; cortisol; hypertension; medicinal plantspharmacology

Versión en Español

Título:

Regaliz