Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 5(25), pp.

5658-5661, 30 October, 2011

Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR
ISSN 1996-0875 ©2011 Academic Journals

Review

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Medicinal uses)

M. Akram1*, Shahab-uddin1, Afzal Ahmed2, Khan Usmanghani3, Abdul Hannan3,
E. Mohiuddin4, M. Asif5 and S. M. Ali Shah5
1
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi, Madinat-al-Hikmah,
Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi, Pakistan.
2
Department of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi,
Madinat-al-Hikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi, Pakistan.
3
Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi, Madinat-al-Hikmah,
Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi, Pakistan.
4
Department of Surgery and Allied Sciences, Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi,
Madinat-al-Hikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi, Pakistan.
5
College of Conventional Medicine, Islamia University Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Accepted 22 September, 2011

Liquorice has been used in medicine for more than 4000 years. Morphological description, active
constituent, bioactivity, pharmacology, specific action, clinical studies, toxicology and medicinal uses
of Glycyrrhiza glabra are described herewith. In Unani system of medicine, liquorice is used as an anti-
inflammatory, antispasmodic and expectorant.

Key words: Glycyrrhiza glabra, medicinal uses, pharmacology.

INTRODUCTION

Nomenclature of Glycyrrhiza glabra
The English name for Glycyrrhiza glabra is Liquorice,
while the vernacular name is Mulethi, Asal-as-sus. It is
from the Leguminosae family. Glycyrrhiza glabra is
synonymous with Glycyrrhiza glandulifera Waldst. and Kit
and is distributed in Pakistan and Europe –
Mediterranean. It flowers perennially from June to July.
However, the part used was the root underground stem
or Radix Glycyrrhizae (Usmanghani et al., 2007).
Genetics
Glycyrrhiza glabra is a diploid with 2n = 16.
Morphological description
It is a hardy herb or undershrub; the leaves are
multifoliolate, imparipinnate; the flowers are in axillar
spikes, papilionaceous, lavender to violet in colour; the
*Corresponding author. E-mail: makram_0451@hotmail.com.
pods are compressed and contain reniform seeds. The
rootstock, which is stout, throws off a large number of
perennial roots. The dried, peeled or unpeeled
underground stems and roots constitute the drug known
in the trade as licorice (Olukoga and Donaldson, 1998).
Principal constituent
The principal constituent of liquorice to which it owes its
characteristic sweet taste is glycyrrhizin, which is present
in different varieties in a concentration of 2 to 14%. This
principle is not found in the aerial parts of the plant. Other
constituents present in liquorce are: glucose (up to 3.8%),
sucrose (2.4 to 6.5%), mannite, starch (30%),
asparagines, bitter principles, resins (2 to 4%), a volatile
oil (0.03 to 0.035), and coloring matter. The yellow color
is due to the anthoxathin glycoside, iso liquiritin, while
liquiritin gives liquiritigenin as a glucone. Both iso-liquiritin
and liquiritin are bitter with a sweet after-teste and
stimulate the salivary glands. Commercial samples
contain c. 2.2% of iso liquiritin. A steroid estrogen,
possibly estriol, is also reported to be present in liquorice.
The presence in the inner bark of a hemolytically active
saponin has been reported. The plant contains
phytoestrogens in the form of isoflavones such as

Figure 1. Triterpene portion of glycyrrhetinic acid (Molecular formula: C42H62O16. Molecular weight: 822.
formononetin; glabrone, neoliquiritin and hispaglabridin A
and B (Hayashi et al., 1996).
Chemistry
Glycyrrizin is a triterpene glycoside. It is extracted from
licorice root. In the structural drawing shown below, the
triterpene portion (glycyrrhetinic acid) is shown as (I) the
two iduronic acid residues are shown as (II).
Glycyrrhetinic acid is not sweet (Figure 1).
Bioactivity
Glycyrrhizin is extracted from licorice root. It is used to
sweeten and flavor many foods and pharmaceutical
preparations (Yamamura et al., 1992). There is a long
history of usage to treat illnesses such as peptic ulcer
(inhibits the enzymes 15-hydroxy-prostaglandin
dehydrogenase and delta-13-prostaglandin reductase
(Fukai et al., 2002); colds and other viral infections (may
stimulate interferon production (Cinatl et al., 2003);
reported expectorant/cough suppressant properties);
microbial and parasitic infections (may stimulate immune
system); cancers (again, possibly related to immune
system function) (Tarrand and Groschel, 1985). Review
of literature also points out side effects and possible
toxicity from excessive consumption (Elinav and Chajek-
Shaul, 2003). Glycyrrhizin inhibits the enzyme which
breaks down cortisol; this prolongs the effects of naturally
produced cortisol in the body, leading to
Akram et al. 5659
anti-inflammatory effects as well as to sodium
retention/water retention/potassium loss caused by
glucocorticoids (Lee et al., 2008; Cinatl et al., 2003).
Pharmacology
G. glabra has been cited in ethnopharmacological
literature as cooling, demulcent, expectorant, diuretic,
emollient, gentle laxative and local stimulant and anti-
Inflammatory (Armanini et al., 2003). Glycyrrhizin, a
glycoside obtained from G. glabra was studied for its anti-
arthritic and anti-inflammatory effect on formaldehyde
induced rat –paw edema in adrenalectomised rats. It was
found to potentiate the anti-arthritic action of
hydrocortisone in rats
Specific action
The specific actions carried out for the respiratory
passages as well as for stomach ulcers are: anti-
inflammatory, alterative, antispasmodic, demulcent,
diuretic, emollient, expectorant, laxative, pectoral and
tonic (Obolentseva et al., 1999).
Clinical studies
The oral administration of the powdered root of G. glabra
in 5 cases of pemphigus, who had been kept free from
the bullae with prednisolone, could considerably reduce
5660 J. Med. Plants Res.
the dose of prednisolone without the reappearance of the
lesions. The potentiating effect of G. glabra appeared to
be due to its inhibitory effect on the metabolic
degradation of prednisolone. A controlled clinical trial on
92 randomly selected cases of post operative traumatic
inflammation following tonsillectomy with powdered G.
glabra given in a dose of 3 g t.d.s in 28 cases. In another
series of 24 cases, oxyphenbutazone 2 tabs t.d.s were
given. On sequential analysis, the anti-inflammatory
response of G. glabra was found to be equivalent to that
of oxyphenbutazone. G. glabra appeared to possess a
more potent antipyretic and anti-exudative activity in
comparison to oxyphenbutazone.
Toxicology
Liquorice in large doses may cause sodium retention and
potassium loss, leading to hypertension, water retention
and severe electrolyte imbalance (Van Uum, 2005).
Excessive amounts of the root, herbal teas or candy
derived from G. glabra may be harmful. Licorice
increases salt retention and depletes the potassium in the
body, causing lack of energy, weakness and even death.
People with hypertension or heart problems should avoid
licorice (Cheng, 2000).
Medicinal uses
Liquorice is one of the most commonly used herbs in
Western and Eastern herbal medicine and has a very
long history of use, both as a medicine and also as a
flavouring to disguise the unpleasant flavour of other
medications (Mitscher et al., 1978). It is a very sweet,
moist, soothing herb that detoxifies and protects the liver
and is also powerfully anti inflammatory, being used in
conditions as varied as arthritis and mouth ulcers (Arase
et al., 1997; Fujioka et al., 2003). The root is alterative,
antispasmodic, demulcent, diuretic, emollient,
expectorant, laxative, moderately pectoral and tonic. The
root has also been shown to have a hormonal effect
similar to the ovarian hormone. Liquorice root is much
used in cough medicines and also in the treatment of
catarrhal infections of the urinary tract. It is taken
internally in the treatment of Addison's disease, asthma,
bronchitis, coughs, peptic ulcer, arthritis, allergic
complaints and following steroidal therapy (Kamei et al.,
2003). It should be used in moderation and should not be
prescribed for pregnant women or people with high blood
pressure, kidney disease or taking digoxin-based
medication (Strandberg et al., 2002). Prolonged usage
raises the blood pressure and causes water retention.
Externally, the root is used in the treatment of herpes,
eczema and shingles. The root is harvested in the
autumn when 3 to 4 years old and is dried for later use. In
Greco-Arab medicine, it is reputed to cure hoarseness of
voice, asthma, irritation of the larynx; largely employed
for relieving sore throat. It is much used for iavouring
medicinal decoctions and as base for pills. In coughs and
Catarrhal affections of the throat and pulmonary mucus
membrane, also in dysuria and oedema of the belly due
to urinary trouble, it proves useful. The compound
liquorice powder is a mild laxative, Owing to senna and
sulphur contents. In large doses (up to 60 g daily), the
drug shows mild mineralo-corticoid and antiinflammatory
action and has been used in the management of
rheumatoid arthritis and Addison’s disease
CONCLUSION
G. glabra has been used as anti-inflammatory,
antispasmodic, expectorant and antitussive in Unani
system of medicine. As a conclusion, it is found that G.
glabra is used to treat a variety of ailments and is
effective for the treatment of cough, influenza, asthma,
chronic bronchitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
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