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Women are increasingly using botanical dietary supplements (BDS) to reduce menopausal hot flashes. Although licorice ( Glycyrrhiza sp.) is one of the frequently used ingredients in BDS, the exact plant species is often not identified. We previously showed that in breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A), Glycyrrhiza glabra (GG) and G. inflata (GI), and their compounds differentially modulated P450 1A1 and P450 1B1 gene expression, which are responsible for estrogen detoxification and genotoxicity, respectively. GG and isoliquiritigenin (LigC) increased CYP1A1 , whereas GI and its marker compound, licochalcone A (LicA), decreased CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of the bioactive licorice compounds, the metabolism of LicA, and whether GG, GI, and/or pure LicA modulate NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) in an ACI rat model. In addition, the effect of licorice extracts and compounds on biomarkers of estrogen chemoprevention ( CYP1A1 ) as well as carcinogenesis ( CYP1B1 ) was studied. LicA was extensively glucuronidated and formed GSH adducts; however, free LicA as well as LigC were bioavailable in target tissues after oral intake of licorice extracts. GG, GI, and LicA caused induction of NQO1 activity in the liver. In mammary tissue, GI increased CYP1A1 and decreased CYP1B1 , whereas GG only increased CYP1A1 LigC may have contributed to the upregulation of CYP1A1 after GG and GI administration. In contrast, LicA was responsible for GI-mediated downregulation of CYP1B1 These studies highlight the polypharmacologic nature of botanicals and the importance of standardization of licorice BDS to specific Glycyrrhiza species and to multiple constituents., (©2018 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Depression is one of the most important health problems worldwide. Women are 2.5 times more likely to experience major depression than men. Evidence suggests that some women might experience an increased risk for developing depression during “windows of vulnerability”, i.e., when exposed to intense hormone fluctuations, such as the menopause transition. Indeed, this period is associated with different symptoms, including vasomotor, depressive, and cognitive symptoms, which have all been shown to worsen as women approach menopause. Even though hormonal therapy represents the most effective treatment, side effects have been reported by several studies. Therefore, an increased number of women might prefer the use of alternative medicine for treating menopausal symptoms. N-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs) are included among these alternative treatments. We here provide a review of studies investigating the effects of n-3 LCPUFAs on hot flashes and depressive and cognitive disorders in menopausal women. The reported results are scattered and heterogeneous. In conclusion, a beneficial role of n-3 LCPUFAs in hot flashes, and depressive and cognitive symptoms related to menopausal transition is still far from conclusive.