The Pharmacological Activities of Licorice

Abstract

!Licorice is one of the oldest and most frequently used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. It contains more than 20 triterpenoids and 300 flavonoids. In recent years, a lot of studies have reported that the active compounds isolated from licorice possess antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and several other activities that contribute to the recovery and protection of the nervous, alimentary, respiratory, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems. In this paper, nine different pharmacological activities of licorice are summarized. The active compounds responsible for these pharmacological activities, the molecular mechanisms, and in vivo and in vitro studies are listed in detail. Furthermore, the clinical therapeutics and toxicity studies of licorice are also discussed. We hope this work can provide a basis for further studies concerning with the safe and effective use of licorice.

Pharmacological Perspective of Glycyrrhiza glabraLinn.: a Mini-Review

“…Glycyrrhiza glabra contains more than 20 triterpenoids and nearly 300 flavonoids [6]. Major secondary metabolites of Glycyrrhiza glabra are shown in Figure 2.…”

“…The secondary metabolites are triterpenoid saponin, glycosides, glycyrrhizin, prenylated biaurone, licoagrone, 7-acetoxy-2-methyl-isoflavone, 7-methoxy-2-methylisoflavone, and 7-hydroxy-2 methyl isoflavone, 4-methyl coumarin, liqcoumarin, glyzaglabrin, quercetin, quercetin-3-glucoside, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin. Other constituents reported include a flavanone rhamnoglucoside, isoliquiritin, licuraside, liquiritoside, liquoric acid, liquiritic acid, isoglabrolide, 18α-hydroxy glycyrrhetic acid, glabrolide, glycyrrhizic acid, glabridin, glabrol, liquiritin, glycyrrhetinic acid; licoflavonol, glyzarin, glyzaglabrin, licoisoflavones A, B and licoisoflavon [6,7]. Glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid are the main components of Glycyrrhiza glabra.…”

“…Research have come up with many therapeutic activities of licorice, a recent review paper summarized the pharmacological activities and discussed potential uses of Glycyrrhiza glabra for antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and several other activities that contribute to the recovery and protection of the nervous, alimentary, respiratory, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems [6]. The reported potential therapeutic activities and traditional uses of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.…”

“…Some marked pharmaceutical formulations containing Glycyrrhiza glabra and their indication and therapeutic uses are summarized in Table 1. Among various plants of the Glycyrrhiza genus, Glycyrrhiza glabra is the utilized for therapeutic purposes and it is additionally pre-clinically and clinically the most focused one [4][5][6][7]. In this review, we have illustrated major secondary metabolites, ethnopharmacology and potential medicinal uses.…”

In vitro Fertilization with Mouse Sperm Activated by Components of Licorice Root Extract

“…Flavonoids have antihepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-allergenic, and antiviral as well as cardioprotective activities [2]; owing to these medicinal properties, licorice root is used in at least 70% of traditional Chinese medicines for treatment of nervous, alimentary, respiratory, endocrine, and cardiovascular system diseases [3]. Licorice is also widely used as a sweetener in the production of confectioneries and soy sauce and is therefore in high demand worldwide.…”