1. 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is an enzyme complex consisting of 11 beta-dehydrogenase and 11-oxoreductase responsible for the interconversion of cortisol to cortisone in man. Inhibition of 11 beta-dehydrogenase (e.g. after liquorice ingestion) results in cortisol acting as a potent mineralocorticoid. We have evaluated the effect of the synthetic liquorice derivative, carbenoxolone, o...

Liquorice has a long history of use in traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic and herbal medicine. The liquorice plant contains numerous bioactive compounds, including triterpenes, flavonoids secondary metabolites, with glycyrrhizin being the main active compound. constituents have been found to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer, hepatoprotective neuroprotective properties. In addit...

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) are mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the exfoliated human deciduous incisor that can differentiate into a many cell types. In this study, we evaluated the effect of liquorice or angelica extracts on the hepatic differentiation potential of SHEDs cells. SHEDs cells cultured in medium containing liquorice extracts were analyzed for 1) c...

OBJECTIVE It was the aim of this study to report an aborted cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation and electrocardiographic changes consistent with Brugada syndrome due to liquorice-induced hypokalemia. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION Ventricular fibrillation was witnessed in a 50-year-old woman who was admitted to our emergency department with a history of liquorice ingestion,...

BACKGROUND Liquorice ingestion often elevates blood pressure, but the detailed haemodynamic alterations are unknown. We studied haemodynamic changes induced by liquorice consumption in 20 subjects versus 30 controls with average blood pressures of 120/68 and 116/64 mmHg, respectively. METHODS Haemodynamic variables were measured in supine position before and after two weeks of liquorice consu...

A 45-year-old woman presented to her general practitioner with a 4-month history of hot flushes, sweating and headaches. On examination, she was found to be hypertensive, and blood tests revealed mild hypokalaemia. While awaiting the results of further investigation into the cause of her elevated blood pressure, the patient conducted her own research and identified liquorice tea as the potentia...

1. 11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase converts cortisol to inactive cortisone in man. In distal renal tubules, this inactivation protects mineralocorticoid receptors from cortisol. Congenital 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency and inhibition of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by liquorice or carbenoxolone result in cortisol-dependent hypokalaemia and hypertension. 2. 11 beta...

In daily practice hypokalaemia is frequently observed. It can be accompanied by various adverse events and can even be life threatening. Frequent causes are intestinal and urinary loss, i.e. diarrhoea or use of diuretics. Glycyrrhizin-containing substances, such as liquorice, are a well-known but rare cause of hypokalaemia. They can induce an apparent mineralocorticoid excess-like syndrome, oft...

In December 2002, a 49-year-old man was admitted to our hospital, with headache. He had no significant past medical history other than hypertension, diagnosed at a supermarket, while on holiday in the USA in August 2002. On admission, he was hypertensive, blood pressure (BP) 200/114mmHg with slight ankle oedema and normal systemic examination. Blood tests showedhypokalaemia [2.2mmol/l; normal r...