Glycyrrhiza glabra
(Licorice)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Adrenal-modulator
• Anti-allergic
• Antibacterial
• Antimutagen
• Antioxidant
• Antiviral
• Decreases inflammation by enhancing movement of leucocytes towards inflamed areas
• Demulcent
• Expectorant with secretolytic and secretomotor activity
• Flavoring
• Hepatoprotective
• Immune stimulating
• Increases interferon production and inhibits the activity of phospholipase A and the formation of prostaglandin E2 in activated peritoneal macrophages
• Inhibits alpha 4-5 beta-reductase and thus inhibits the breakdown of adrenal cortical hormone
• Inhibits growth of sarcoma-45 and Ehrlich ascites cells
• Inhibits RC mammary carcinoma and lymphosarcoma 150 in mice
• Inhibits suppressor T-lymphocyte activity
• Induces interferon production
• Laxative
• Liver tonic and protectant
• Spasmolytic
• Steroidal - estrogenic
• Stimulates natural killer cell activity

Clinical Indications:

• AIDS
• Allergies
• Amenorrhea
• Anorexia nervosa
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Cancer prevention
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Constipation
• Crohn's disease
• Cystitis
• Eczema
• Endometriosis
• Fertility/Infertility
• Hepatitis
• Herpes simplex
• Mastitis
• Menopause
• Osteoporosis
• Otitis media
• Peptic ulcer
• Psoriasis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Ulcerative colitis
• Acute intermittent porphyria
• Adrenal fatigue
• All throat and bronchial irritations
• Bacteria infections
• Catarrh
• Coughs
• Gastritis
• Hypoglycemia
• Immune deficient states
• Liver diseases - mononucleosis (where the liver enzymes are abnormally high)
• Urinary tract irritation
• Viral infections

Contraindications:

• Cholestatic liver disorders
• Edema
• Hyperaldosterone
• Hypertension
• Liver cirrhosis
• Pregnancy
• Renal failure

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Corticoid treatment - glycyrrhizin interferes with 5 beta-reductase breakdown of corticosteroids, thus prolonging its biological half-life
• Potentiates hypokalemia and sodium retention when used with insulin
• Potentiates potassium loss when used with diuretics like thiazides
• Potentiates potassium loss when used with stimulant laxatives
• Potentiates the activity of anthraquinone drugs or herbs containing anthraquinones
• Potentiates the toxicity of cardiac glycosides like digitalis due to potassium loss in the urine
• Reduces ulcer formation caused by aspirin intake

Chemical Constituents:

• Acidic resin
• Amines
• Amino acids
• Asparagin, a mucilage
• Chalcones
• Coumarins:
  
  Herniarin
  Umbelliferone
• Flavonoids
• Glycyramarin
• Glycyrrhizin, a derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid similar to hormones produced in the adrenal cortex, especially desoxycorticosterone (DOCA)
• Gums
• Inflavonoids:
  
  Glabrol
  Isoflavonol
  Kumatakenin
  Licoricone
• Lignins
• Phytosterols, both estrogenic and cortisone-like
• Resins
• Starch
• Sugar:
  
  Glucose
  Sucrose
• Tannin
• Triterpenoids
• Volatile oils:
  
  Fenchone
  Thujone

Toxicity:

• Chronic use may mimic aldosteronism by increasing sodium resorption and potassium excretion by the kidney
• Symptoms:
  
  Edema
  Headache
  Hypertension
  Hypokalemia
  Vertigo

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).