Protects the Liver

Evidence suggests that glycyrrhetinic acid has a protective effect on liver injury through its anti-inflammatory activity:
1. A study found that glycyrrhetinic acid could prevent drug-induced liver injury and disruption of bile acid metabolism in humans. [53]
2. Pretreatment of liver cells with glycyrrhetinic acid protects against aflatoxin-induced oxidative stress. [54]
3. In mice with liver injury caused by Propionibacterium acnes, glycyrrhetinic acid treatment inhibited the activation and proliferation of liver-infiltrating CD4(+) T cells and reduced the production of inflammatory substances such as interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. [55]
4. In rats, low-dose glycyrrhetinic acid (50 mg/kg) exhibited a protective effect against Triptolide-induced liver injury through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic properties. [56-57]
5. In mice, ingestion of glycyrrhetinic acid prevented accumulation of fats in the liver by protecting mitochondria against oxidative stress. [58]
6. In rats, glycyrrhetinic acid treatment reduced endotoxin-induced acute liver injury after partial hepatectomy (surgical removal of a part of the liver). [59]
7. In rats, glycyrrhetinic acid treatment prevented liver injury by inhibiting the production of proteins involved in liver scarring. [60-62]
8. In mice, glycyrrhetinic acid attenuated acetaminophen-induced liver injury. [63]