PREPARATIONS3X /day
Powdered root (BPC1973) 0.6-2 g.[4]
1-4 g.[1,2]
Decoction 1-4 g in 20-80 ml water.
Liquorice lozenges (BPC1973).[4]
Liquroice compound powder (BPC1973) 5-10 g.[4]
Fluid extract 1:1 20% alcohol 2-5 ml.[1,2,4]
25% alcohol.[3]
NOTE: Glycyrrhiza should be prescribed in neutral or alkaline solution. It is
more effective when taken before food. ORIGIN:
Southern Europe. DESCRIPTION: A tall erect herbaceous perennial. Prepared root; varies in
appearance depending on origin. They are usually found cut into lengths of up
to 15-20 cm and of variable diameter, stolens normally being narrower than roots.
Th external surace when unpeeled in dark reddish brown, lingitudinally wrinkled
with occasional root scars. Internally it is yellowish and fibrous, with a radiate
structure; the stolens have a central pith. References
[1] British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983
Published by the British Herbal Medicine Association ISBN 0 903032 07 4.
[2] Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes For Diploma of Naturopathy and Diploma
of Herbalism Students by Lydia Mottram.
[3] The Pharmaceutical Plant Company Pty Ltd ppcherbs.com.au
[4] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations R.C.
Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in
Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company
Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound
by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973. Images
1. wikipedia.org
by RaffiKojian CC BY-SA 3.0
2. blog.libero.it
3. alibaba.com
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from
the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant
medicinally. Constituents
A saponin glycoside- glycyrrhizin to 10%,[1,2]
and its aglycone glycyrrhetinic acid, liquiritic acid, glycyrrhetol, glabrolide,
isoglabrolide, licoric acid, and phytosterols.[3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
Triterpenoid acids. Bitter principles to 7% (mostly in outer tissue)
including glycyramarin.
Flavonoids and isoflavonoids; liquiritin,[1,2]
liquiritigenin, rhamnoliquiritin, neoliquiritin, licoflavonol, licoisoflavones
A and B, licoisoflavanone, formononetin, glabrol, glabrone, glyzarin, kumatakenin.[3,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]
Coumarins; liqcoumarin, umbelliferone, herniarin glycyrin.[3,10,17]
Chalcones; liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, neosoliquiritin, rhamnoisoliquiritin,
licuraside, licochalcones A and B, echinatin.[3,7,18]
Polysaccharides, mainly glucans.[19]
Resins 2-4%.
Sugars-[3] glucose and sucrose 5-15%.
Starch.[3] Amino acid.[3]
Volatile oil 0.03%, contianing fenchone, linalool, furfuryl alcohol, benzaldehyde.[3]
Oestrogenic substances are found in the aerial parts and possibly on the roots.
Drug Interactions- Antihypertensives- Can decrease effectiveness of
drug when used for longer times than 4-6 weeks in high doses. Can result in
pseudoaldosteronism, edema, inhibition of renin-angiotensin system ==> elevation
in blood pressure. Avoid long term use, longer than 4-6 weeks at doses >100
mg glycyrrhizin/day.
Oral contraceptives- May decrease effectiveness at very high doses. Avoid
high doses >100 ml glycyrrhizin/day.
Cortisol- Increases levels of drug by decreasing plasma clearance. Avoid.
Digoxin- May increase patient's sentivity to drug with long term use >4-6
weeks at high doses due to hypokalaemic side effects.
N.S.A.I.D'S- May decrease associated gastric irritation and ulceration. So
benefits side effects of drug.
Prednisolone- Increases levels of drug by decreasing plasma clearance. Avoid.
Thiazide diuretics and other Potassium depleting drugs- Increases urinary
excretion of potassium depleting drugs- increases urinary excretion of potassium
increasing risk of developing hypokalemica = low levels of potassium in blood.
Avoid long term use >4-6 weeks at doses >100 mg glycyrrhizin/day unless blood
potassium levels monitored. References
[1] British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 Published by the British Herbal Medicine
Association ISBN 0 903032 07 4.
[2] Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes For Diploma of Naturopathy and Diploma
of Herbalism Students by Lydia Mottram.
[3] Pharmacognosy, 12th Ed. Trease, G. E. and Evans, W. C. Pub. Bailliere
Tindall (1983) UK
[4] Drogenkunde, 8th Ed. Heinz, A., Hoppe. Pub. W. de Gruyter (1975) Berlin
[5] Encyclopedia of Comon Natural Ingredeints used in Food Drugs and Cosmetics,
Albert Y. Leung. Pub. John Wiley & Sons Inc. (1980) NY
[6] Advances in Chinese Medicinal Materials Research, Eds H. M. Chang et
al. Pub. World Scientific Pub. Co. (1985) Singapore
[7] Hikino, H. "Economic and Medicinal Plant Research", Vol 1. Pub.
Academic Press (1985) UK
[8] Killacky, J. et al. (1976) Planta Med. 30, 310
[9] Van Hulle, C. (1970) Pharmazie 25, 620
[10] Bhardwaj, D. K. et al. (1977) Phytochem. 16,
401
[11] Bhardwaj, D. K. et al. (1977) Phytochem. 15,
352
[12] Bhardwaj, D. K. and Singh, R. (1977) Curr. Sic. 46, 753
[13] Saitoh, T. et al. (1976) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 24,
1242
[14] Saitoh, T. et al. (1978) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 26,
752
[15] Saitoh, T. et al. (1976) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 24,
991
[16] Kinoshita, T. et al. (1978) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 26,
141
[17] Kinoshita, T. et al. (1978) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 26,
135
[18] Tanaka, S. et al. (1987) Planta Med. 53 (1),
5
Research The major active ingredient is glycyrrhizin, which is responsible
for the sweet taste; being 50 times sweeter than sugar,[1]
and an 18-b derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid has an
antitussive activity comparable to that of codeine.[2]
Both glycyrrhizin and glycrrhetinic acid are antiinflammatory,[1,3,4]
and antiallergic,[1] helping to explain
their efficacy in asthma. They ahve been shown to be hepatoprotective, mediating
their activity through an antioxidative rather than a corticosteroid-like mechanism.[5]
Licorice is used climically in China for liver diseases, and has produced an improvement
in liver function tests in hepatitis, clearing jaundice and alleviating abdominal
distension, nausea and vomiting.[6]
It is throught that these effects may also be due in part to the ability of glyrrhizin
to induce immune interferon in both mice and humans.[7]
Liquorice has antiulcer activity and a derivative of glycyrrhetic acid, carbenoxolone,
is used clinically for ulcers, including aphthous ulcers. However, glycyrrhizin
and glycyrrhetinic acid have mineralocorticoid activity,[1,8]
and this limits their use in long term management of stomach ulcers. extract of
deglycyrrhizinized liquorice have been prepared and in fact have a similar protective
effect against experimentally induced ulcers,[9]
however they have not yet been clinically proven.[10]
Glycyrrhizin has recently been found to have an anticariogenic acitvity by inhibiting
baterial growth and plaque formationj it has been suggested as a vehicle for topical
oral medications.[3] Liquorice has estrogenic
activity in animals,[2] this is probably
due to the isoflavonoids present. Liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin are monoamine
oxidase inhibitors in vitro,[11]
and may therefore have antidepressant activity. Liquiritin also has significant.
Liquiritin also has significant antiinflammatory acitivity in the rat paw edema
test.[1] Liquorice extracts inhibit
histamine release in rats and appear to have a centrally activing muscle reaxant
activity,[1,12] and detoxify certain
ddrugs such as strychnine, urethane, cocaine, mercurous chloride and pictrotoxin
in animals.[13] The polysaccharide fraction
has immunostimulating actitiy.[14,15] References
[1] Hikino, H. "Economic and Medicinal Plant Research", Vol I Pub. Academic
Press (1985) UK
[2] Pharmacognosy, 12th Ed. Trease, G. E. and Evans, W. C. Pub. Bailliere Tindall
(1983) UK
[3] Segal, R. et al. (1985) J. Pharm. Sci. 74 (1), 79
[4] Amagaya, S. et al. J. Pharmacobiodyn. 7 (12), 923
[5] Kiso, Y. et al. (1984) Planta Med. 50, 298
[6] "Advances in Chinese Medicinal Materials Research", Eds H. M. Chang
et al. Pub. World Scientific Pub. Co. (1985) Singapore
[7] Hayashi, Y. et al. (1979) Yakuri to Chiryo 7, 3861
[8] Epstein, M. T. et al. (1977) Brit. Med. J. 19, 488
[9] Rees, W. D. W. et al. (1979) Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 14,
605
[10] Bardhan, K. D. et al. (1978) Gut 19, 779
[11] Tanaka, S. et al. (1987) Planta Med. 53 (1), 5
[12] Watanabe, Y. and Watanabe, K. (1980) Proc. Sypl Wakan-Yaku 13,
16
[13] Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Materia Medica Vol 1, Ed. H. Chan
and P. But, Pub. World Scientific (1986) Singapore
[14] Yagura, T. et al. (1978) Proc. Symp. Wakan-Yaku 11, 79
[15] Kumagai, A. and Takata, M. (1978) Proc. Symp. Wakan-Yaku 11,
73 Beneficial effect of aqueous root extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra on learning
and memory using different behavioral models: An experimental study.
Chakravarthi KK, Avadhani R.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
In the traditional system of medicine, the roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza glabra
(Gg) (family: Leguminosae) have been studied for their ability to improve a variety
of health ailments.
AIMS:
The present study was designed to investigate the beneficial effects of Gg root
extract on learning and memory in 1-month-old male Wistar albino rats. Four doses
(75, 150, 225, and 300 mg/kg) of aqueous extract of root of Gg was administered
orally for six successive weeks.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The aqueous extracts were evaluated for their effect on spatial learning and memory
in rats using the elevated plus maze, Hebb-William maze, and Morris water maze
tests which served as the exteroceptive behavioral model. Diazepam-induced amnesia
served as the interoceptive behavioral model.
RESULTS:
Results showed that all the doses of aqueous root extract of Gg significantly
enhanced the memory; however, in the doses of 150 and 225 mg/kg, it showed a significant
(P < 0.01) enhancement in learning and memory. Furthermore, Diazepam-induced
amnesia was reversed by the aqueous root extract of Gg (150 and 225 mg/kg, p.o.).
CONCLUSION:
These findings suggest that the memory enhancement effects of Gg may be mediated
by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Thus, Gg appears to be a
promising drug for improving memory in the management of impaired learning, dementia,
Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders.
KEYWORDS:
Diazepam; Glycyrrhiza glabra; Hebb–William maze; elevated plus maze; learning;
memory; water maze
PMID: 24082744 PMCID: PMC3783792 DOI: 10.4103/0976-9668.117025 J Nat
Sci Biol Med. 2013 Jul;4(2):420-5. doi: 10.4103/0976-9668.117025. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The healing effect of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) on Helicobacter pylori
infected peptic ulcers
Marjan Rahnama, Davood Mehrabani, Sara Japoni, Majid Edjtehadi, and Mehdi Saberi
Firoozi
Peptic ulcer is an inflammation in the lining of the stomach or duodenum with
Helicobacter pylori being the major cause. The standard therapeutic measure is
to eradicate the bacterial infection among them. One week “triple therapy”
is recommended as the treatment of choice, consisting of a proton pump inhibitor
such as omeprazole and the antibiotics of clarithromycin, and amoxicillin. Initial
treatment failure due to resistance requires alternative strategies, like a quadruple
therapy, which adds a bismuth colloid, e.g., bismuth subsalicylate. Herbal medicine
has been opened its way in therapy of gastric ulcer, among them, licorice (liquorice
or sweet wood) was shown to have anti H. pylori effects derived from the roots
and stolons of Glycyrrhiza species. In modern medicine, licorice extract has been
used for pepticulcer and as an alternative to bismuth that has a protective role
against acid and pepsin secretions by covering the site of lesion and promoting
the mucous secretion. This study aims to compare the quadruple therapy of amoxicillin,
metronidazole, omeprazole, and bismuth sub nitrate with the same treatment while
licorice is replaced by the bismuth sub nitrate in peptic ulcer patients.
In a double-blind study, 40 patients with peptic ulcer referring to Gastroenterohepatology
Research Center of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were divided into two
equal groups. All patients had previously undergone endoscopic examination to
confirm their peptic ulcer histologically and the presence of bacteria was verified
by urease breath test. The first group received amoxicillin (500 mg, 3 times/day
after diet for 15 days), metronidazole (250 mg, 4 times/day after diet for 15
days), omeprazole (20 mg, 2 times/day ½ h before the diet for 30 days)
and bismuth sub nitrate (500 mg, 3 times/day ½ h before the diet for
30 days). In Group 2, the regimen was identical, but licorice was replaced for
bismuth sub nitrate (250 mg, 3 times/day ½ h before the diet for 30 days).
After 1 month of therapy, all patients underwent endoscopy again providing a
biopsy for histological study to determine the peptic ulcer healing rate and
urease breath test to denote the extent of H. pylori eradication. Moreover,
pain relief was also evaluated. The study was approved by the university Ethics
Committee and an informed consent was provided from each participant.
In Group 1, 15 were male and 5 were female and in Group 2, 11 patients were
male and 9 were female. The healing of peptic ulcer was visible in 95% of Group
1 and 70% of Group 2. Pathologically, in Group 1, the eradicative effect of
licorice against H. pylori was 70% in comparison to Group 2 (45%). These figures
based on the urease breath test results were 55% and 40% respectively. In 80%
of Group 1, a reduction in pain was noticed when compared with Group 2 (70%).
In Group 1, 40% and in Group 2, 30% of patients reported a previous family history
of peptic ulcer.
There are some studies to confirm our results, but the positive effect of licorice
in peptic ulcers was more prominent.[7,8] Fukai et al. reported weak healing
effects for licorice in peptic ulcer too.[9]
Our findings showed that licorice could be suggested as a replacement in treatment
for quadruple therapy when this regimen is not available while licorice has
a low-cost, highly tolerable and with minimal side-effects.
J Res Med Sci. 2013 Jun; 18(6): 532–533. PMCID: PMC3818629
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Linn)
in rats. Visavadiya NP, Narasimhacharya AV. Abstract
The hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (GG)
root powder were examined in hypercholesterolaemic male albino rats. A 4-week
administration of GG root powder (5 and 10 gm% in diet) to hypercholesterolaemic
rats resulted in significant reduction in plasma, hepatic total lipids, cholesterol,
triglycerides and plasma low-density lipoprotein and VLDL-cholesterol accompanied
by significant increases in HDL-cholesterol levels. Furthermore, significant
increases in fecal cholesterol, neutral sterols and bile acid excretion along
with an increase in hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity and bile acid production
were observed in these animals. The root powder administration to hypercholesterolaemic
rats also decreased hepatic lipid peroxidation with a concomitant increase in
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities and total ascorbic acid content.
Thus, the hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant effects of GG root appeared to
be mediated via (i) accelerated cholesterol, neutral sterol and bile acid elimination
through fecal matter with an increased hepatic bile acid production and (ii)
improving the activities of hepatic SOD, catalase and increasing the ascorbic
acid content. The normo-cholesterolaemic animals when fed with GG root powder
at 10 gm% level, registered a significant decline in plasma lipid profiles and
an increase in HDL-cholesterol content. The antioxidant status of these animals
also was improved upon treatment.
PMID: 17054099 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200600063 Mol Nutr Food Res. 2006 Nov;50(11):1080-6.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and the adrenal-kidney-pituitary axis in
rats. Al-Qarawi AA, Abdel-Rahman HA, Ali BH, El Mougy SA. Abstract
The effect of oral administration of a water freeze-dried extract of Glycyrrhiza
glabra (liquorice) has been studied at doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg in rats
on the plasma concentration of cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH),
aldosterone, renin, sodium (Na) and potassium (K). The results indicated that
treatment induced dose-dependent and mostly significant decreases in the concentration
of cortisol, ACTH, aldosterone and K. There were concomitant dose-dependent increases
in the concentrations of renin and Na. The results suggest a strong and dose-dependent
suppression of the adrenal-pituitary axis, accompanied by stimulation of renin
production from the kidney.
PMID: 12387318 Food Chem Toxicol. 2002 Oct;40(10):1525-7.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Memory enhancing activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra in mice. Dhingra D, Parle M, Kulkarni SK. Abstract
In the traditional system of medicine, the roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza glabra
(family: Leguminosae) have been employed clinically for centuries for their anti-inflammatory,
antiulcer, expectorant, antimicrobial and anxiolytic activities. The present study
was undertaken to investigate the effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (popularly known
as liquorice) on learning and memory in mice. Elevated plus-maze and passive avoidance
paradigm were employed to test learning and memory. Three doses (75, 150 and 300
mg/kg p.o.) of aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra were administered for 7 successive
days in separate groups of animals. The dose of 150 mg/kg of the aqueous extract
of liquorice significantly improved learning and memory of mice. Furthermore,
this dose significantly reversed the amnesia induced by diazepam (1 mg/kg i.p.)
and scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg i.p.). Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
of liquorice may be contributing favorably to the memory enhancement effect. Since
scopolamine-induced amnesia was reversed by liquorice, it is possible that the
beneficial effect on learning and memory was due to facilitation of cholinergic-transmission
in mouse brain. However, further studies are necessitated to identify the exact
mechanism of action. In the present investigation, Glycyrrhiza glabra has shown
promise as a memory enhancing agent in all the laboratory models employed.
PMID: 15120462 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2004.01.016 J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Apr;91(2-3):361-5.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Antibacterial activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra against oral pathogens: an
in vitro study
Fereshteh Sedighinia, Akbar Safipour Afshar, Saman soleimanpour, Reza zarif, Javad
Asili, and Kiarash Ghazvini,* Abstract
Objectives: Oral infections and dental caries are still considered as serious
public health problems and inflict a costly burden to health care services around
the world and especially in developing countries.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, we evaluated the antibacterial activity
of Glycyrrhiza glabra (G. glabra) against oral pathogens by diffusion methods
and determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by both broth and Agar
dilution methods and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) by broth dilution
methods.
Results: In this study, G. glabra extract showed good antibacterial activity against
six bacteria. No strain in this study showed resistance against this extract.
Conclusion: G. glabrais suggested as an appropriate candidate to help us in order
to control dental caries and endodontic infections.
Avicenna J Phytomed. 2012 Summer; 2(3): 118–124. PMCID: PMC4075669
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Effect of Aqueous and Alcoholic Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) Root Extract
Against Streptococcus Mutans and Lactobacillus Acidophilus in Comparison to Chlorhexidine:
An In Vitro Study
Sunil Lingaraj Ajagannanavar,1 Hemant Battur,2 Supreetha Shamarao,3 Vivek Sivakumar,4
Pavan Uday Patil,5 and P Shanavas6 Abstract
Background:
Glycyrrhiza (licorice) an herb, which has medicinal value and was used in ancient
times as a remedy for a great diversity of ailments and sweetener. Roots of Glycyrrhiza
contain a high concentration of saponin and glycyrrhizin, which are supposed to
be sweetening agents. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of aqueous
and alcoholic licorice root extract against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus
acidophilus in comparison to chlorhexidine (CHX).
Materials and Methods:
In the first part of the study, various concentrations of aqueous and ethanolic
licorice extract were prepared in the laboratory of Pharmacy College. It was then
subjected to microbiological assay to determine its zone of inhibition using agar
disk diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using serial broth
dilution method against S. mutans and L. acidophilus. CHX was used as a positive
control.
Results:
MIC of aqueous and ethnolic licorice root extract against S. mutans and L. acidophilus
were 25% and 12.5%, respectively. Mean zone of inhibition of the aqueous and alcoholic
licorice extracts against S. mutans at 48 h were 22.8 mm and 26.7 mm, respectively.
Mean zone of inhibition of the aqueous and alcoholic licorice extracts against
L. acidophilus at 48 h were 14.4 mm and 15.1 mm, respectively. Mean zone of inhibition
of the CHX against S. mutans and L. acidophilus at 48 h was 20.5 and 13.2, respectively.
Conclusion:
The inhibitory effect shown by alcoholic licorice root extract against S. mutans
and L. acidophilus was superior when compared with that of aqueous form and CHX.
J Int Oral Health. 2014 Jul-Aug; 6(4): 29–34.
PMCID: PMC4148569 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
ORIGIN:
Southern Europe. 