甘草的心脏保护作用是由其中所含的黄酮类化合物和甘草酸类化合物引起的。这两类化合物都具有抗心律失常和心肌细胞保护作用。其中异甘草素是通过抗氧化、抗炎以及阻滞L型钙电流通道和电压依赖性钾电流通道，而甘草酸类化合物是通过抗氧化、抗炎以及阻滞心血管细胞间缝隙连接，产生抗心律失常和心肌保护作用。临床上已经将甘草酸和甘草酸二铵试用于心内直视手术病人心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护和治疗急性重症病毒性心肌炎。

Cardioprotective effects of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma are due to its flavonoids and glycyrrhizic acid compounds. Both of the two kinds of compounds have antiarrhythmic and myocardial protection. Isoliquiritigenin is through anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and blocking L-type Ca2+ channel, and voltage-dependent K+ channel, however, glycyrrhizic acid compounds are through anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and blocking gap junctions of cardiovascular cells. In clinic, glycyrrhizic acid and diammonium glycyrrhizinate have been tried for the protection of myocardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients undergoing open heart surgery and treatment of serious type of acute virus myocarditis.