Sweet Wood

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):

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: