Journal of agricultural and food chemistryJul 21, 2026

18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid may protect fat tissue from age-related inflammation in diet-induced obese mice

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jul 22, 2026

Abstract

18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA) significantly mitigated inflammation and cellular senescence in white adipose tissue in a high-fat diet mouse model.

18β-GA diminished the expression of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP).
Restoration of adipogenic differentiation potential was observed in adipose progenitor cells (APCs) treated with 18β-GA.
Network pharmacology analysis identified HMGCR as a key target of 18β-GA.
The anti-inflammaging effect of 18β-GA was comparable to that of established HMGCR inhibitors.
18β-GA reduced cholesterol accumulation in white adipose tissue, which is linked to APC senescence.

Simplified

Licorice, a widely used herb in food additives and nutraceuticals, primarily exerts its biological effects through 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA) in vivo. Here, we aimed to investigate whether 18β-GA attenuates obesity-associated white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammaging and to clarify the molecular events responsible for its protective effects. Using a high-fat diet mouse model together with cultured adipose progenitor cells (APCs), we found that 18β-GA significantly mitigated inflammation and cellular senescence in WAT, diminished the expression of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and restored APC adipogenic differentiation potential. Network pharmacology analysis pinpointed HMGCR (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase) as a key candidate target, with subsequent experiments confirming that the anti-inflammaging effect of 18β-GA was comparable to established HMGCR inhibitors. Furthermore, 18β-GA markedly reduced cholesterol accumulation in WAT, which directly induces APC senescence, suggesting that cholesterol homeostasis regulation represents a key mechanism responsible for its protective activity. Thus, 18β-GA emerges as a promising nutraceutical agent for combating obesity-driven metabolic disorders and chronic inflammation in WAT.

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18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid may protect fat tissue from age-related inflammation in diet-induced obese mice

Abstract

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