title: Hepatoprotective effect of licorice, the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, in alcohol-induced fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our previous study suggested that licorice has anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated microglial cells and anti-oxidative activity in tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative liver damage. In this study, we evaluated the effect of licorice on chronic alcohol-induced fatty liver injury mediated by inflammation and oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Raw licorice was extracted, and quantitative and qualitative analysis of its components was performed by using LC-MS/MS. Mice were fed a liquid alcohol diet with or without licorice for 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have standardized 70% fermented ethanol extracted licorice and confirmed by LC-MS/MS as glycyrrhizic acid (GA), 15.77 ± 0.34 μg/mg; liquiritin (LQ), 14.55 ± 0.42 μg/mg; and liquiritigenin (LG), 1.34 ± 0.02 μg/mg, respectively. Alcohol consumption increased serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities and the levels of triglycerides and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Lipid accumulation in the liver was also markedly induced, whereas the glutathione level was reduced. All these alcohol-induced changes were effectively inhibited by licorice treatment. In particular, the hepatic glutathione level was restored and alcohol-induced TNF-α production was significantly inhibited by licorice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our data suggests that protective effect of licorice against alcohol-induced liver injury may be attributed to its anti-inflammatory activity and enhancement of antioxidant defense.
authors.affiliation: Life Science Research Institute, Novarex Co., Ltd, Ochang, Cheongwon, Chungbuk, 363-885, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 406-840, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan, 609-735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sou Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Daekyeung College, Gyeongsan, 712-719, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Keuk-Jun
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Life Science Research Institute, Novarex Co., Ltd, Ochang, Cheongwon, Chungbuk, 363-885, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Mi
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Tissue Injury Defense Research Center, School of Medicine, Ewha Woman's University, Seoul, 158-710, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seikwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan, 609-735, Republic of Korea. youngjung@pusan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Young-Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D029882:Glycyrrhiza uralensis / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D020122:tert-Butylhydroperoxide
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020122:tert-Butylhydroperoxide