Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root Extract

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, has been used clinically for decades, primarily for the treatment of peptic ulcers. Licorice has been shown to inhibit several inflammatory enzymes, including both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), decreasing the production of several potent inflammatory compounds, including prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2, and leukotriene B4. Importantly, this inhibition is not due to glycyrrhizic acid, the component of licorice which has been removed in DGL, and which is associated with mineralocorticoid excess and hypertension. Another component of licorice, glabridin, has been shown to prevent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced production of inflammatory compounds, including nitric oxide and interleukin-1 beta, whereas glycyrrhizic acid has no effect.