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| Latin Name |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Linn. (Fabaceae ) |
Liquorice,
Licorice |
Yashti-madhu,
Yashti-madhuka |
Mulhathi,
Jethi-madh |
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| Habitat |
It grows in
the sub- tropical and warm temperate regions of the world, chiefly
in Mediterranean countries and China.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
It is a hardy
herb or undershrub; the leaves are multifoliolate, imparipinnate;
the flowers are in axillary spikes, papilionaceous, lavender
to violet in colour; the 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.
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| Principal
Constituents |
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 2-14%.
This principle is not found in the aerial parts of the plant. Other
constituents present in liquorice are: glucose (up to 3.8%), sucrose
(2.4-6.5%), mannite, starch ( 30% ), asparagine, bitter principles,
resins (2-4%), a volatile oil (0.03-0.035%) and coloring matter. The
yellow color is due to the anthoxanthin glycoside, iso liquiritin
which, undergoes partial conversion to liquiritin during drying and
storage of roots. Iso liquiritin gives on hydrolysis iso liquiritigenin,
while liquiritin gives liquiritigenin as a glucone. Both iso liquiritin
and liquiritin are bitter with a sweet after-taste 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 reported1. The plant contains phytoestrogens
in the form of isoflavones such as formononetin; glabrone, neoliquiritin
and hispaglabridin A & B.
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| Pharmacology |
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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 rats2.
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| Clinical
Studies |
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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 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 prednisolone3. 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 3g 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 oxyphenbutazone4.
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| Toxicology |
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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 licorice5.
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| Indications |
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Licorice is used for the treatment
of asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis and chronic cough. It is a
mild anti-inflammatory for arthritis and rheumatism and is used to
treat gastric, duodenal and oesophageal ulceration or inflammation,
heartburn and mouth ulcers.
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| Product
Range |
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Abana (HeartCare),
Diabecon (GlucoCare), Diakof (CoughCare Sfree), Geriforte (GeriCare
/ StressCare), Herbolax (LaxaCare), Koflet (CoughCare), Menosan, Rumalaya
forte, Septilin (ImmunoCare), Septlin syrup, Anti-Wrinkle
Cream, Baby Lotion, Cough Syrup, Geriforte Aqua, Geriforte Vet, Himpyrin, Himpyrin
Vet, Regurin, Yashti-madhu.
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| References |
- Houseman, loc. cit.; Thorpe, VII, 362; Kapur et. al.,
loc. cit.; Trease, 393; McIlroy, 40; Puri & Seshadri, J. sci.
industr. Res., 1954, 13B, 475; Chem. Abstr., 1950, 44, 4635.
- Gujral, M.L., Sareen, K., Phukan, D.P. and Amma, M.K.P. 1961a.
Anti-arthritic activity of glycyrrhizin in adrenalectomised rats.
Indian J. Med. Sci. 15, 625.
- Saxena, et. al., J. Ind. Med. Profes., 1970,
12, 5575.
- Saxena, et. al., J. Ind. Med. Profes., 1970,
17, 7532.
- Anonymous, 1986. Magic Medicine of plants, Readers Digest
Assn. Inc., New York, 337.
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