Effects of glycyrrhizic acid on right atrial pressure and pulmonary vasculature in rats.

Glycyrrhizic acid (GCA) the active component of liquorice acts by inhibiting 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-OHSD) which catalyses the reversible conversion of cortisol to cortisone. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of GCA on pulmonary arterial pressure. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200g) received drinking water containing 0.1 mg/ml and 1.0 mg/ml GCA for 12 weeks. Tail blood pressure (BP) was recorded every three weeks and serum Na+ and K+ were measured at the beginning and the end of the experiment. Right atrial pressure (RAP) were measured at the end of 12 weeks just before the animals were sacrificed. Lung tissues were taken for histological examination using the elastic-van Gieson (EVG) staining method. There was a significant increase in tail BP in GCA treated rats compared to controls, for both dosages used. This was associated with an increase in serum Na+ and a decrease in K+ level. The mean RAP increased significantly from 2.69 +/- 0.23 mmHg to 4.47 +/- 0.32 mmHg (P < 0.001) in 0.1 mg/ml GCA treated rats and 6.86 +/- 0.54 mmHg (P < 0.0001) in rats receiving 1.0 mg/ml GCA in their drinking water. Histological examination showed increased thickness of pulmonary arterial wall (P < 0.0001). In conclusion GCA caused an increase in right atrial pressure as well as thickening of the pulmonary vessels suggesting pulmonary hypertension.