Glabrene Explained

Glabrene is an isoflavonoid that is found in Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice).^[1] It has estrogenic activity, showing estrogenic effects on breast, vascular, and bone tissue, and hence is a phytoestrogen (IC₅₀ for estrogen receptor binding = 1 μM).^{[2] [3]} It has also been found to act as a tyrosinase inhibitor (IC₅₀ = 3.5 μM) and to inhibit the formation of melanin in melanocytes, and for these reasons, has been suggested as a potential skin-lightening agent.^[4]

See also

• Glabridin
• Isoliquiritigenin
• Liquiritigenin

Notes and References

1. Tamir S, Eizenberg M, Somjen D, Izrael S, Vaya J . Estrogen-like activity of glabrene and other constituents isolated from licorice root . J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. . 78 . 3 . 291–8 . 2001 . 11595510 . 10.1016/s0960-0760(01)00093-0. 40171833 .
2. Somjen D, Knoll E, Vaya J, Stern N, Tamir S . Estrogen-like activity of licorice root constituents: glabridin and glabrene, in vascular tissues in vitro and in vivo . J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. . 91 . 3 . 147–55 . 2004 . 15276622 . 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.04.003 . 41966251 .
3. Somjen D, Katzburg S, Vaya J, Kaye AM, Hendel D, Posner GH, Tamir S . Estrogenic activity of glabridin and glabrene from licorice roots on human osteoblasts and prepubertal rat skeletal tissues . J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. . 91 . 4–5 . 241–6 . 2004 . 15336701 . 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.04.008 . 16238533 .
4. Nerya O, Vaya J, Musa R, Izrael S, Ben-Arie R, Tamir S . Glabrene and isoliquiritigenin as tyrosinase inhibitors from licorice roots . J. Agric. Food Chem. . 51 . 5 . 1201–7 . 2003 . 12590456 . 10.1021/jf020935u .