glycyrrhetic, a. Chem.
(glɪsɪˈriːtɪk, -ˈrɛtɪk)
[f. next + -ic.]
glycyrrhetic acid: a triterpene, the aglycone of glycyrrhizic acid.
| 1907 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. XCII. i. 545 When it [sc. glycyrrhizic acid] is boiled for five hours with 3% sulphuric acid, air being excluded, glycyrrhetic acid, C32H48O7.., m.p. 210° (hitherto known as ‘glycyrrhetin’), is precipitated. 1966 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. XIV. 112/1 The ammonium salt of glycyrrhetic acid is the taste principle of licorice. Therapeutically, glycyrrhetic acid is reported to be the active ingredient of licorice having desoxycortone-like activity. |