Objectives : The purpose of this paper is to find out the safe dose and clinical use for administration of Glycyrrhizae Radix in Shanghanlun(傷寒論).
Methods : Web-databases(OASIS, NDSL, Pubmed, Google) were searched with keywords including ‘Licorice’, ‘Pseudoaldosteronism’, ‘Glycyrrhizin’, ‘Testosterone’ on 14/10/2016. The searched about 40 papers and books were reveiwed.
Results : Glycyrrhizin(GL) and 3-monoglucuronyl glycyrrhetinic acid(3MGA) in Glycyrrhizae Radix are found to be the main compounds vulnerable for inducing pseudoaldosteronism. The dose range of Glycyrrhizae Radix in Shanghanlun prescriptions is from 0.25 g to 12 g as a daily administration, and this dose satisfies the guidelines of WHO, European Union, ABC etc. And risk factors contributing for personal sensitivities are old age(>60), female sex, liver dysfunction, hypokalemia, prolonged gastrointestinal transit time, anorexia nervosa, decreased 11-ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 activity and hypertension.
Conclusions : As a result, dose of Glycyrrhizae Radix in Shanghanlun(傷寒論) is safe. However, the personal sensitivity and unexpected drug interactions are independent from doses of GL, so doctors should monitor those risk factors and symptoms of pseudoaldosteronism when administering Glycyrrhizae Radix.
KeyWords : Licorice, Glycyrrhizin, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Shanghanlun(傷寒論). Pseudoaldosteronism, 3-Monoglucuronyl Glycyrrhetinic Acid(3MGA)
