Carbenoxolone

Carbenoxolone, a synthetic derivative of glycyrrhizinic acid, is a licensed drug (in the UK) for oesophageal ulceration and inflammation. Other uses include treatment of oral and perioral lesions.

Additional recommended knowledge

How to quickly check pipettes?

How to ensure accurate weighing results every day?

Weighing the right way

Carbenoxolone (aka Carbenoxylone, CBX) is also finding increasing use as a Connexon (a hemichannel made up of 6 connexin subunits) blocker and as a gap junction (2 connexons join together) blocker.

Nootropic effects

Carbenoxolone has also been investigated for nootropic effects.^[1]

This research started from an observation that long-term exposure to glucocorticoids may have negative effects on cognition. Carbenoxolone may decrease the amount of active glucocortocoid in the brain, because the drug inhibits 11Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, an enzyme which activates cortisol from cortisone, a glucocorticoid. In the research trial investigating this use of carbenoloxone, it was shown that the drug improved verbal fluency in elderly healthy men (aged 55-75). In type 2 diabetics aged 52-70, the drug improved verbal memory. However, it should be noted that potassium-sparing diuretic amiloride was co-administered with carbenoxolone, since carbenoxolone used by itself may cause hypertension by increasing cortisol in the kidneys.

References