3-Monoglucuronyl-glycyrrhetinic acid is a major metabolite that causes licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism.

Abstract

18 beta-Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) has been thought to be one of the major metabolites that causes licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism. However, we found no difference in the blood level of GA between the patients with and without pseudoaldosteronism. We measured the blood concentration of 3 beta-D-(monoglucuronyl)18 beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (3MGA), another metabolite of 3 beta-D-diglucuronyl-18 beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (glycyrrhizin), by high performance liquid chromatography and found an increased concentration of 3MGA in 10 patients with licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism, but not in 11 patients without pseudoaldosteronism. To investigate whether 3MGA can inhibit 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, we incubated rat renal microsome with or without 3MGA and measured the conversion rate of [3H]cortisol to [3H]cortisone. 3MGA was found to be a potent inhibitor of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, allowing cortisol to exert its full mineralocorticoid effects. These results suggest that licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism is due to an increased concentration of 3MGA, but not GA, in the circulating blood of these patients.

• Authors: H Kato, M Kanaoka, S Yano, M Kobayashi
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 80 Issue 6 Pg. 1929-33 (Jun 1995) ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States
• PMID: 7775643 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• glycyrrhetyl 3-monoglucuronide
• NADP
• Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
• 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
• Glycyrrhetinic Acid
• Hydrocortisone

Topics

• 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Case-Control Studies
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Female
• Glycyrrhetinic Acid (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, blood, pharmacology)
• Glycyrrhiza (metabolism)
• Humans
• Hydrocortisone (metabolism)
• Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Hyperaldosteronism (chemically induced, diagnosis)
• Kidney (ultrastructure)
• Male
• Microsomes (enzymology)
• Middle Aged
• NADP (pharmacology)
• Plants, Medicinal