Liquiritigenin is an active estrogenic component in extracts of Glycyrrhizae radix. Glycyrrhizae radix (G. radix, licorice, liquorice) is frequently used for life-enhancing properties, for the treatment of injury or swelling, for detoxification in traditional Oriental medicine, as well as a food supplement in many of the countries in the world. Liquiritigenin is a selective estrogen receptor-β (ERβ) agonist. Liquiritigenin activates multiple ER regulatory elements and native target genes with ERβ but not ERα. The ERβ-selectivity of liquiritigenin is due to the selective recruitment of the coactivator steroid receptor coactivator-2 to target genes.
As the targeting ERβ is associated with anti-inflammatory effects, liquiritigenin exerts anti-inflammatory effects. Liquiritigenin is also reported to antihyperlipidemic, antiallergic and antihepatocellular carcinoma effects.
