Effect of licorice extract (Fm100) on release of secretin and exocrine pancreatic secretion in humans.

We investigated the effect of a fraction of licorice extract (Fm100) on release of endogenous secretin in seven human volunteers using radioimmunoassay and exocrine pancreatic secretion using a dye dilution technique with polyethylene glycol 4000 as a non-absorbable marker. Intrajejunal administration of Fm100 (pH 6.5) in three different doses (200, 400, and 800 mg/30 min) resulted in significant increases in both plasma secretin concentration and pancreatic bicarbonate output in a dose-dependent manner (r = 0.737, p less than 0.001, and r = 0.483, p less than 0.01, respectively). However, it did not influence pancreatic secretion of protein or amylase. The correlation between plasma secretin concentrations and bicarbonate outputs was also significant (r = 0.483; p less than 0.01). These results indicate that endogenous secretin is released by Fm100 in humans and suggest strongly that the increased pancreatic bicarbonate secretion is attributable to the increased plasma concentration of secretin.