Botanical name– Glycerrhiza glabra Linn
Family-Leguminoceae
Common name– Sanskrit: Madhuka, Hindi: Madhuyashti, English: Liquorice
DescriptionIt is a perineal herb that grows up to 1.5 meters tall and is native to southern Europe. It has a long, reddish-yellow root and multiple branches made of the root and bark. The leaves are compound leaflets, the flowers are pinkish, and the pods are flat and 3 cm long. The seeds are produced in the rainy season. The flowers appear in the summer.
Part used– Roots
Chemical constituents-Triterpene saponinsWith its aglycone, glycyrrhetinic acid, and other derivatives and glycosides like glycyrrhizol, glabrins A and B, glycyrrhetol, glabrolide, isoglabrolide, and others, glycyrrhizin (glycyrrhizic acid) is the main saponin responsible for the sweet taste of liquor
Flavonoids and IsoflavonoidsLiquiritin, which is partially converted to isoliquiritin during drying and storage; their aglycones, liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin; isolicoflavonol; licoagrodione; glucoliquiritin apioside; prenyllicoflavone A; shinflavone; shinpterocarpin; and I-methoxyphyaseollin
Herniarin, umbelliferone, C-liqucoumarin, 6-acetyl-5,hydroxy-4-methyl coumarin, glycycoumarin, and licopyanocoumarin are some of the coumarins and derivatives of coumestan that have been identified.
Phytosterolssitosterol, onocerin, stigmasterol, and amyrin.
Volatile oils–Anethole, estragole, eugenol, and hexanoic acid make up the majority of the volatile oil in licorice, which is present in trace amounts (0,5%).
Traditional usesIt has been applied topically to cuts and wounds and used in the treatment of hyperdipsia, genitourinary diseases, and many other minor indications, including as a corticosteroid replacement agent. It is used as a tonic, laxative, demulcent, expectorant, and emollient in many traditional systems of medicine. It finds particular use in cough, catarrh, bronchitis, fever, gastritis, gastric and du
Medicinal and pharmacological action–Antiulcer activity:An Ayurvedic preparation containing liquorice increased -glucuronidase activity in the Brunner’s glands, offering protection against duodenal ulcer. Liquorice has a well-documented antiulcer action, being as effective as cimetidine and pirenzapine in treating peptic ulcer.
Hepatoprotedive activity:The antioxidant activity of liquorice root powder is comparable to that of I)-carotene, and it has historically been used to prevent liver diseases. Administration to experimental animals increased the duration of the lag phase of ascorbate free radical oxidation in the liver and myocardium, and it significantly decreased lipid peroxides in the liver. An alcoholic extract increased the cumulative biliary and urinary excretion of acetaminophen without affecting the thioether or
Antioxidant adivity:Glabridin and its derivatives contributed to the antioxidant activity induced by heavy metal ions and macrophages against low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, which is a significant contributor to the production of aetiology-associated endothelial growth factor (AEGF).
Antimicrobial adivity:When tested using strains of Candida albicans isolated from clinical samples of acute vaginitis, extracts containing flavonoids demonstrated significant antimycotic activity. Flavonoid constituents isolated from liquorice hairy root cultures also showed antimicrobial activity when tested using the disc diffusion method. Hispaglabridin A and B, glabridin, glabrol, 3-hydroxyglabrol, and 4′ -O-methylglabridin have also shown significant antimicrobial activity.
Anticancer adivity:Extracts were tested for cytotoxicity in vitro using the Yoshida ascites sarcoma; the petroleum ether extract showed a more potent activity than other solvent extracts. Liquorice has also been shown to protect against skin tumorigenesis caused by DMBA (7,12-dimethyl-benz [a] anthracene) initiation and 12-0 tetradecanoylphorbol 12-n-acetate.
Antimutagenic adivity:Using a Salmonella microsome reversion assay, the extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root and its isolated constituents were tested against the mutagenicity of ethyl methanesulphonate, N-methyl-N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and ribose-lysine using the Maillard, N-methyl-N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and ribos
Antiinflammatory adivity:Glyderinine, a derivative of glycyrrhizic acid, suppressed vascular permeability, allergic and antipyretic activity, without inducing haemopoiesis or ulceration, and inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, which indicates antiinflammatory activity. Glycyrrhizin also prolonged plasma recalcification and fibrogen clotting times.
HOMOEOPATHIC USES –
Used as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory
beneficial for irritable bronchitis, colds, sore throats, and coughs
It is useful, but without the negative side effects, of corticosteroids, according to research.
prevents prostate cancer from spreading
reduces blood cholesterol and assists in body fat reduction
used to treat oligospermia and boost sperm production
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