Evidence supporting the use of: Glycyrrhetinic acid
For the health condition: Cirrhosis of the Liver

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Glycyrrhetinic acid, a bioactive compound derived from licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), has a history of traditional use in various liver disorders, including cirrhosis. In traditional Chinese and Japanese Kampo medicine, licorice extracts have been used for centuries to "soothe the liver" and address symptoms associated with chronic liver disease. Some early clinical uses, particularly in Japan, involved glycyrrhizin (from which glycyrrhetinic acid is derived) for chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, with claims of improved liver function and reduced inflammation.

However, direct scientific evidence specifically supporting glycyrrhetinic acid for cirrhosis is limited. Most available studies have focused on glycyrrhizin rather than glycyrrhetinic acid itself. Glycyrrhizin formulations (such as Stronger Neo-Minophagen C) have shown some benefit in chronic hepatitis and, to a lesser extent, cirrhosis, mostly in Asian populations. The proposed mechanisms involve anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and hepatoprotective effects, possibly mediated by inhibition of certain enzymes and modulation of immune responses.

Modern research on glycyrrhetinic acid specifically is sparse and largely preclinical, with few rigorous human trials. While there is laboratory evidence of hepatoprotective effects in animal models, these findings have not been robustly translated to cirrhosis treatment in humans. Thus, while its use is rooted in tradition and supported by some extrapolated data, there is insufficient high-quality scientific evidence to firmly recommend glycyrrhetinic acid for cirrhosis of the liver.

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