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Licorice Glycyzrrhiza glabra
Family: Leguminosae, Papilionaceae
---Synonyms---Licorice, sweetwood, licorice root
--Parts Used---Dried root
Active Compounds:
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Triterpenes of the oleanane type, mainly glycyrrhizin (=glycyrrhizic or glycyrrhizinic acid), and its agylcone glycyrrhetinic acid (glycyrrhitic acid), liquiritic acid, glycyrrhetol, glabrolide, isoglabrolide, licoric acid, & phytosterols.
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Flavonoids and isoflavonoids; liquiritigenin, liquiritin, rhamnoliquiritin, neoliquiritin, licoflavonol, licoisoflavones A and B, licoisoflavanone, formononetin, glabrol, glabrone, glyzarin, kumatakenin and others.
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Coumarins; liqcoumarin, umbelliferone, herniarin glycyrin.
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Chalcones; liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, neosoliquiritin, rhamnoisoliquiritin, licuraside, licochalcones A and B, echinatin and others.
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Polysaccharides, mainly glucans.
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Volatile oil, containing fenchone, linalool, furfuryl alcohol, benzaldehyde.
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Miscellaneous; starch, sugars, amino acid etc
---Medicinal Actions and Uses---
Action
anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-spasmodic, demulcent, emetic, expectorant, laxative, rejuvenative, sedative, tonic.
Uses
abdominal pain
bronchitis
colds
cough
debility (general)
heart tonic
hyperacidity
inflammation
laryngitis
laxative
mucus membrane toner and soother
muscle spasms
sore throat
ulcers
painful urination
Glycyrrhizin inhibits the growth of several DNA and RNA viruses, inactivating Herpes simplex virus particles irreversibly. It has a variety of uses in bronchial problems such as catarrh, bronchitis and coughs in general. Liquorice is used in allopathic medicine as a treatment for peptic ulceration, a similar use to its herbal use in gastritis and ulcers. It can be used in the relief of abdominal colic.
It nourishes the brain-increasing cranial and cerebrospinal fluid. Also improves complexion, hair, and vision.
| Lavender | Lemon balm | Licorice | Lettuce opium | Lily of the valley |
| Linden | Lobelia | Lousewort | Loveman | Lungwort |