Glycyrrhizin, a component of Chinese medicine licorice root.

In Japanese medicine glycyrrhizin has been used as treatment for chronic hepatitis for more than 20 years and improves liver function with occasional complete recovery from hepatitis.

In randomized controlled trials, glycyrrhizin induced a significant reduction of serum aminotransferases and an improvement in liver histology compared to placebo.

The mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect of glycyrrhizin most probably does not involve ROS and this major constituent is not responsible for the inhibition effects of liquorice extract on neutrophil functions.