GL injected i.v., is partially metabolized to 3-monoglucuronyl-glycyrrhetinic acid (3MGA) in the liver by lysosomal β-D-glucuronidase, and GL and 3MGA could be excreted with bile. The biliary-excreted GL and 3MGA are hydrolyzed by intestinal bacteria into GA, which is reabsorbed into the bloodstream. Orally administered GL is enzymatically hydrolyzed to GA by intestinal bacterial flora before absorption into the bloodstream. The circulated GA is further metabolized to 3MGA in the liver by UDPglucuronyl transferase and then excreted with bile into the intestine [82] . The pharmacokinetic characteristics of i.v. administration of GL in patients with liver disease was studied in a Japanese and European report: SNMC has linear pharmacokinetics up to 200 mg, and steady state in achieved after two weeks of 200 mg doses administrated six times per week [83] .