What is Licorice?
This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Licorice, derived from the root of the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant, is a well-known herbal remedy with a long history of use in traditional medicine. It is renowned for its sweet flavor and numerous health benefits, which have been validated by modern scientific research. This article explores the various therapeutic properties of licorice, its applications in different medical conditions, and the underlying mechanisms of its action. Other names include: Acide Glycyrrhizique, Acide Glycyrrhizinique, Alcacuz, Alcazuz, Bois Doux, Bois Sucré, Can Cao, Chinese Licorice, Deglycyrrhized Licorice, East European Licorice, Gan Cao, Gan Zao, Glabra, Glycyrrhiza, Glycyrrhiza echinate, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza glabra typica, Glycyrrhiza glabra violacea, Glycyrrhiza glabra glandulifera, Glycyrrhiza glandulifera, Glycyrrhiza Radix, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhizae, Glycyrrhizic Acid, Glycyrrhizinic Acid, Isoflavone, Jethi-Madh, Kanzo, Lakritze, Licorice Root, Liquiritiae Radix, Liquirizia, Mulathi, Mulethi, Orozuz, Phytoestrogen, Phyto-œstrogène, Racine de Réglisse, Racine Douce, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Régalissse, Regaliz, Reglisse, Réglisse, Réglisse Déglycyrrhisée, Réglisse Espagnole, Réglisse Russe, Regliz, Russian Licorice, Spanish Licorice, Subholz, Sussholz, Sweet Root, Turkish Licorice, Ural Licorice, Yashtimadhu, Yashti-Madhu, Yashti-Madhuka, Zhi Gan Cao.
Therapeutic Properties of Licorice
Neuroprotective Effects
Licorice has been traditionally used in Persian ethnomedicine for its neuroprotective properties. Recent studies have demonstrated its effectiveness as an adjunct treatment in managing Parkinson’s disease (PD). In a randomized double-blinded clinical trial, licorice intake significantly improved the symptoms of PD patients, including daily activities and tremor, without causing serious adverse events1.
Wound Healing
Licorice exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective in promoting wound healing. Research involving a rat model showed that licorice extract significantly enhanced cutaneous wound healing by increasing collagen synthesis, angiogenesis, and reducing oxidative stress markers2.
Cardiovascular Health
Licorice root extract has been shown to have antiatherosclerotic effects in hypercholesterolemic patients. It reduces plasma lipid levels, increases the resistance of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to atherogenic modifications, and decreases systolic blood pressure, thereby acting as a moderate hypocholesterolemic nutrient and potent antioxidant agent3.
Neuroprotective and Genotoxicity Mitigation
Licorice has also been found to mitigate the neurotoxic and genotoxic effects of excessive copper exposure. In a study involving albino rats, licorice administration ameliorated copper-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in the brain, highlighting its antioxidative and protective properties4.
Renal Protection
Licorice has demonstrated protective and therapeutic effects in cases of acute tubular necrosis induced by gentamicin. It helps in reducing oxidative damage, improving antioxidant defense, and decreasing blood urea, creatinine, and uric acid levels, thereby ameliorating nephrotoxicity5.
Metabolic Health
Licorice has shown potential in improving metabolic health, particularly in patients with HSD11B1 gene polymorphisms associated with type 2 diabetes. A pilot study indicated that licorice supplementation significantly reduced serum insulin levels, suggesting its role in managing diabetes6.
Immunomodulatory Effects
Licorice enhances immune function by increasing immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels, which play a crucial role in mucosal immunity. This immunomodulatory effect has been observed in patients with chronic periodontitis, where licorice supplementation improved periodontal health status7.
Weight Management and Lipid Profile
Licorice, when combined with a low-calorie diet, has been effective in improving lipid profiles and atherogenic indices in overweight and obese individuals. It significantly reduced total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and improved other lipid parameters, supporting its use in weight management8.
COVID-19 Management
Licorice has been investigated for its potential benefits in managing COVID-19 symptoms. A clinical trial is underway to evaluate its effects on clinical symptoms and laboratory signs in moderately ill COVID-19 patients, given its anti-inflammatory properties9.
Animal Health
Licorice supplementation in animal diets, such as in Japanese quails, has shown to enhance growth performance, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and maintain healthy gut microbiota. This suggests its potential benefits in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine10.
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💊Does licorice supplementation reduce serum insulin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes?
Adverse Effects of Licorice
Anticoagulation Effects
Licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) can induce anticoagulation effects, with a clear sex difference in the observed effects. The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was found to be 800 mg/kg/day for female rats and approximately 400 mg/kg/day for male rats2.
Potential for Nephrotoxicity
Licorice has shown protective effects against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats, but its biological effects on the kidney are still not fully clear. It can reduce blood urea, creatinine, and uric acid levels, and improve antioxidant defense, but the potential for nephrotoxicity remains a concern7.
Impact on Blood Glucose Levels
Licorice flavonoids can suppress abdominal fat accumulation and lower blood glucose levels in obese diabetic mice. However, this hypoglycemic effect could be problematic for individuals with diabetes or those on blood sugar-lowering medications9.
No Significant Adverse Effects in Short-Term Use
In a study on the effects of licorice on recurrent aphthous stomatitis, no adverse effects were observed with the intervention, suggesting that short-term use may be relatively safe8.
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📉Can licorice supplementation reduce blood urea and creatinine levels in nephrotoxicity models?
How has Licorice Improved Patient Outcomes?
Neuroprotective Effects in Parkinson’s Disease and Stroke
Licorice intake significantly improved symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients, including daily activities, tremor, motor tests, and rigidity scores, without serious adverse events1.
In patients with acute ischemic stroke, licorice extract led to significant improvements in neurological scores (NIHSS and MRS) compared to placebo, indicating better recovery4.
Cardiovascular Health
Licorice extract reduced plasma cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol, and triacylglycerol levels, and increased resistance of LDL against atherogenic modifications in hypercholesterolemic patients2 10.
It also decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, suggesting potential benefits in managing cardiovascular risk factors2 10.
Wound Healing
Licorice extract enhanced wound healing in rats by increasing antioxidant biomarkers, collagen synthesis, and angiogenesis, and reducing oxidative stress markers3.
Metabolic and Liver Health
In women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), licorice supplementation improved liver enzymes, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress parameters, along with better ultrasonographic findings of liver steatosis8.
Licorice showed a moderate improvement in serum insulin levels in diabetic patients with HSD11B1 gene polymorphism, indicating potential benefits in managing diabetes5.
Immunomodulatory Effects
Licorice supplementation increased IgA levels in chronic periodontitis patients, enhancing immune function and periodontal health7.
Respiratory Health
Gargling with licorice before anesthesia significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative sore throat and postextubation coughing compared to sugar-water gargle9.
COVID-19
Licorice root extract, when added to the standard treatment regimen for COVID-19, showed potential benefits in improving clinical symptoms and laboratory signs in moderately ill patients6.
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💆♂️How has licorice improved patient outcomes?
Licorice Mechanisms of Action
Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties
Licorice extract enhances wound healing by increasing antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, GPx, GSH) and reducing oxidative stress markers (MDA). It also promotes collagen synthesis and angiogenesis, contributing to faster wound healing1.
Licorice flavonoids reduce oxidative damage in lung tissues by balancing the oxidant/antioxidant system, which helps in the treatment of bronchial asthma2.
Immunomodulatory Effects
Licorice polysaccharides exhibit immunomodulatory activities by increasing immune organ indices and activating CD4+ and CD8+ immune cells. They also modulate cytokine levels, increasing IL-2, IL-6, and IL-7 while decreasing TNF-α3.
Licorice enhances the immune function in chronic periodontitis patients by increasing IgA levels, which helps in improving periodontal health8.
Metabolic and Cardiovascular Benefits
Licorice extract reduces plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels, increases LDL resistance to oxidation, and lowers systolic blood pressure in hypercholesterolemic patients, thereby offering cardiovascular protection4.
Licorice flavonoids suppress abdominal fat accumulation and lower blood glucose levels in obese diabetic mice, potentially through the activation of PPAR-γ7.
Neuroprotective and Hypnotic Effects
Licorice intake improves symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients without causing significant adverse effects, suggesting its potential as an adjunct therapy6.
Glycyrrhizin, a component of licorice, alleviates insomnia by increasing GABA levels and GABA receptor expression, which enhances sleep quality9.
Anti-cancer Properties
Isoliquiritigenin, a flavonoid from licorice, inhibits M2 macrophage polarization in colitis-associated tumorigenesis by downregulating PGE2 and IL-6 signaling pathways, thereby reducing tumor growth5.
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🎡What is Licorice mechanism of action?
Common Complaints Associated with Licorice Use
Electrolyte Imbalance and Blood Pressure Changes
Licorice intake did not result in significant changes in blood pressure or electrolyte levels (sodium and potassium) in patients with Parkinson’s disease2.
No electrolyte abnormalities were observed during the study period2.
Adverse Reactions in COVID-19 Patients
The study on COVID-19 patients evaluated the incidence of adverse reactions as a secondary outcome, but specific adverse reactions were not detailed in the abstract1.
General Safety and Tolerability
Licorice was generally well-tolerated without serious adverse events in Parkinson’s disease patients2.
In menopausal women, licorice was effective in reducing hot flashes without significant adverse effects, although the placebo group also showed some improvement due to psychological effects3.
Licorice vaginal cream significantly improved vaginal atrophy symptoms in postmenopausal women without reported adverse effects4.
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🩺Is licorice vaginal cream effective in improving vaginal atrophy symptoms without adverse effects?
Disclaimer
The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.
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