Products
Licorice is available as cut open or in the form of licorice stems in pharmacies and drugstores. Licorice extract is found in bronchial pastilles, in teas, and various cough medicines, among other products. The extract is also a component of licorice and corresponding confectionery.
Stem plant
Stem plants include various -species of the legume family (Fabaceae).
The perennial licorice shrub is native to the Mediterranean region, Asia Minor and Russia.
Medicinal drug
The licorice root (Liquiritiae radix) is used as a medicinal drug. It consists of the dried, unpeeled or peeled, whole or cut roots and stolons of and/or and/or . Licorice roots must contain a minimum content of glycyrrhizic acid.
Ingredients
Ingredients include:
- Triterpene saponins: 18β-glycyrrhizic acid (= glycyrrhizin, glycoside), 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (aglycone).
- Flavonoids, isoflavones
- Coumarins
- Stilbenoid
- Volatile compounds
- Polysaccharides
Effects
Preparations from licorice root have expectorant, antiulcerogenic, antiviral, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antitumor, and antispasmodic properties, among others. Glycyrrhizic acid is about 50 times sweeter than sugar.
Indications
Preparations of licorice root are used medicinally mainly as an expectorant for cough with phlegm formation. Other indications (selection):
- Gastrointestinal ulcers, gastritis.
- In viral inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
- In traditional Chinese medicine (Gan Cao).
- As a flavor corrigendum, as a sweetener.
- For the production of licorice.
- The roots are chewed for their sweet taste (licorice stalk).
- As an additive for tobacco products.
- For toothpastes.
Adverse effects
When taking high doses, mineralocorticoid effects such as pseudohyperaldosteronism with water and sodium retention, swelling (edema), potassium deficiency, and hypertension may occur. This due to inhibition of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2, which biotransforms active cortisol to inactive cortisone. This increases mineralcorticoid activity.
Appendix
Ingredients used in the production of licorice include the following:
- Licorice extract: The content is usually relatively low, eg 3%.
- Sugar: sucrose, glucose, brown sugar syrup.
- Binders and gelling agents: wheat flour, starch, gelatin, agar, tragacanth, pectin.
- Flavorings, e.g. anise oil or fennel oil.
- Salts: table salt, ammonium chloride
- The black color of confectionery can be enhanced by adding carbon powder or food coloring.
- Coating agent: beeswax, carnauba wax.