Studies on the Hypocholesterolemic Activities of Glycyrrhizin

Glycyrrhizin의 Hypocholesteroleinic Action에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)

Glycyrrhizin, an active constituent of Glycyrrhiza, was chemically extracted and its hypocholesterolemic activities were studied in rats. Following were the results: 1. The Sprague Dowley rats fed with the standard diet were divided into 4 groups, $50{\sim}60$ in each, and glycyrrhizin was given in doses of 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0mg per 100gm body weight daily for 10, 20, 30, and 60 days. Glycyrrhizin showed more or less the hypocholesterolemic activities in all animals. All of the animal groups to which 1. 0mg and 2.0mg of glycyrrhizin were given died before 60 days, while no mortality cases was noted in the group to which 0.5mg of glycyrrhizin was given. 2. Cholesterol administration induced hypercholesterolemia in all experimental animals, however, simultaneous administration of cholesterol with 0.5mg of glycyrrhizin suppressed the rise of the total serum cholesterol levels. The former group did not survive until 56 days, while the latter did. 3. Glycyrrhizin also Suppressed the cholesterol biosynthesis and incorporation of cholesterol in the liver tissues. 4. Glycyrrhizin induced the increase of the fecal excretion of the sterol compounds.