甘草的心臟保護(hù)作用是由其中所含的黃酮類化合物和甘草酸類化合物引起的。這兩類化合物都具有抗心律失常和心肌細(xì)胞保護(hù)作用。其中異甘草素是通過抗氧化、抗炎以及阻滯L型鈣電流通道和電壓依賴性鉀電流通道，而甘草酸類化合物是通過抗氧化、抗炎以及阻滯心血管細(xì)胞間縫隙連接，產(chǎn)生抗心律失常和心肌保護(hù)作用。臨床上已經(jīng)將甘草酸和甘草酸二銨試用于心內(nèi)直視手術(shù)病人心肌缺血再灌注損傷的保護(hù)和治療急性重癥病毒性心肌炎。

Cardioprotective effects of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma are due to its flavonoids and glycyrrhizic acid compounds. Both of the two kinds of compounds have antiarrhythmic and myocardial protection. Isoliquiritigenin is through anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and blocking L-type Ca2+ channel, and voltage-dependent K+ channel, however, glycyrrhizic acid compounds are through anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and blocking gap junctions of cardiovascular cells. In clinic, glycyrrhizic acid and diammonium glycyrrhizinate have been tried for the protection of myocardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients undergoing open heart surgery and treatment of serious type of acute virus myocarditis.