Liquorice

Liquorice

Latin Name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Family: Fabaceae

Part used: Root
Energetics: Very sweet, slightly bitter, cool, moist
Iris: All types
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.

Safe alongside Herb
  • Acetylsalicylic acid
  • Albuterol, Salbutamol sulfate
  • Amoxicillin
  • Cholestyramine
  • Cimetidine
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Diazepam
  • Ibuprofen
  • Meloxicam
  • Paracetamol
  • Ranitidine
Unsure alongside Herb
  • Alendronate
  • Bevacizumab
  • Clodronate, sodium tetrahydrate
  • Etidronate, disodium
  • Ibandronate
  • Metoclopramide
  • Oestradiol, estradiol
  • Pamidronate, disodium
  • Prednisolone
  • Prednisone
  • Risedronate
  • Tiludronate disodium
  • Zoledronic acid
Avoid alongside Herb
  • Digoxin
  • Mycophenolate mofetil
  • Mycophenolate sodium
  • Mycophenolic acid
  • Spironolactone

CONTRA-INDICATIONS

  • Hypertension
  • Water retention
  • Low potassium
  • Cardiac disease
  • Type 1 Diabetes
  • Pregnancy.

CAUTION

Excessive liquorice use is known to cause pseudohyperaldosteronism, which is characterised by sodium retention, hypertension, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, and suppression of the renin-angiotension-aldosterone system.
The clinical manifestations of this condition are attributable to glycyrrhizic acid (the active ingredient in liquorice), which inhibits a renal enzyme (11 β-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase [11 β–HSD]).
Usually, 11 β-HSD converts bioactive cortisol into inactive cortisone (which cannot bind the mineralocorticoid receptors) within the renal tubules.
Glycyrrhizic acid-induced inhibition of 11 β-HSD prevents inactivation of cortisol, which can bind the aldosterone (mineralocorticoid) receptor to produce an aldosterone-like effect.

ACTIONS


Normaliser of the hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenocortical system.
  • Soothing and calms inflammation
  • Mildly laxative
  • Anti-depressant
  • Anti-ulcer
  • Antacid
  • Adaptogen
  • Anti-stress
  • Demulcent
  • Anti-tussive
  • Anti-viral
  • Anti-diabetic
  • Anti-fungal
  • Anti-bacterial (H. pylori)
  • Anti-protozoal
  • Antioxidant
  • Anti-pyretic
  • Amphoteric
  • Emollient
  • Expectorant
  • Prostatic tonic
  • Immuno-modulator
  • Spermatogenic.

Main Constituents

  • Volatile oil
  • Glycosides- glycyrrhizin (about 7%)
  • Glycyrrhizinic acid
  • Triterpenoid glycosides (saponins)
  • Flavonoids (including liquiritigetol)
  • Isoflavonoids
  • Bitter principle (glycyrmarin)
  • Chalcones
  • Coumarins
  • Amino acids
  • Amines
  • Oestrogenic substances (including beta-sitosterol)
  • Glucose
  • Sucrose (5-15% sugars)
  • Starch
  • Tannins (trace)
  • Gums
  • Wax

Main Uses

Digestive System: Soothing demulcent for irritated and inflamed mucous membranes, Has a mild cortisone effect (aldosterone), Peptic ulcer, Colic, Constipation
Skin: Eczema
Circulatory: Type 2 diabetes, Insulin resistance
Mental/Emotional: Anxiety
Nervous system: Exhaustion
Endocrine: Adaptogen and normaliser of the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenocorticoid system, Inhibits oestrogen when levels are high and increases it when levels are low, PCOS, Hypotension
Immune System: Allergy, Autoimmune conditions
Respiratory System: Coughs, Bronchitis
Reproductive System: Infertility

Infections:
Bacteria: Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, E. coli, Helicobacter pylori, Klebsiella, Micrococcus, MRSA, Mycobacteria tuberculosis, Propionibacterium, Salmonella typhi, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
Fungi: Candida albicans, Trichophyton.
Protozoa: Plasmodium yoelii.
Viruses: Encephalitis, Epstein-Barr (EBV), Hepatitis A, B, HSV-1, HIV/AIDS, H1N1 influenza, Paramyxovirus, SARS-CoV-2, Stomatitis, Vaccinia, Herpes zoster.

More About Liquorice

Liquorice Root boasts a medicinal history going back thousands of years, with reports of it being consumed for its health benefits by the likes of Caesar, Alexander the Great and the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.
A "Cure-all"?
To the Egyptians Liquorice was a “cure-all”, although it was used throughout the ancient world for a variety of maladies. The herbal physician Dioscorides who travelled with the army of Alexander the Great gave it to the troops to give them stamina and endurance. It was also widely used as a digestive aid, to provide respiratory relief and to strengthen the liver and kidneys.
A sweetener
Liquorice has a restoring and regulating effect and is a global enhancer of other remedies, by improving taste, bringing warmth and moisture.
It is safe to use with diabetics as a form of sweetening when made as a decoction.
Respiratory Demulcent
It has a soothing quality which makes it an excellent choice for irritability and dryness of the lungs, throat, stomach and urinary system.
It has a protective and detoxifying effect on liver cells.
Demulcent effect on Digestion
Liquorice root is a natural antacid that helps to relieve heartburn, indigestion, gastric and stomach ulcers, acid reflux and symptoms of GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).
It works by coating the digestive tract with mucous, protecting the stomach lining (and lungs!) whilst speeding up its repair and restoring balance.
Due to its diuretic and mildly laxative effects, this root can also reduce stomach bloating, water retention and constipation.
Antibacterial
The “glycyrrhizic acid”, is anti-inflammatory and suppresses the growth “H pylori.
Adaptogenic
Research shows that Liquorice is a powerful adaptogenic herb, able to help the body to manage the stress hormone “cortisol” more efficiently. It is very nourishing for burned out adrenals and is best used during times of chronic fatigue and tiredness that usually results in frequent illness.
Hormones
Glycyrrhizin, one of the bioactive compounds of liquorice, can bind to glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors, and exert its effects via inhibition of 11b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.
Liquorice can reduce serum testosterone by inhibiting 17-hydroxysteriod dehydrogenase.
It also contains isoflavones and other constituents that have oestrogen receptor-modulating activities. The flavone and liquiritigenin components selectively activate ER-beta.
Antidepressant
It has 8 different antidepressant compounds, which can help in all types of depression. The compound, "glycyrrhizin" breaks down cortisol, the stress hormone, enabling the body to deal with stress.
“Deglycyrrhizinated”
A form of liquorice where the glycyrrhizin has been removed.
Glycyrrhizin is known to cause negative side effects, such as hypertension and oedema; removing the glycyrrhizin is meant to avoid these symptoms.

Recipes:


Sticky Liquorice Carrots

Ingredients:

  • 50g soft black liquorice
  • 50g salted butter
  • 800g carrot, cut into batons

STEP 1:
Finely chop the liquorice and put in a small pan with about 5 cm water. Boil for 30 mins, topping up with water to keep the liquorice covered at all times, mashing and stirring occasionally, until nearly all the lumps of liquorice have disappeared and you’re left with black, syrupy water. Sieve into a new pan, add the butter, and gently bubble until you have a consistency between clear honey and gravy.

STEP 2:
Boil a big saucepan of water. Add the carrots and cook for a couple of mins until just tender. Drain well, then tip back into their pan and add the hot liquorice syrup. Toss to coat, season, and tip into a dish to serve.

Liquorice Panna Cotta

Ingredients:

  • 250 ml heavy cream
  • 50 ml full fat milk
  • 5 g gelatin 2 sheets
  • 30 g white sugar
  • 10 g dark muscovado sugar
  • 2 tsp liquid liquorice extract

Instructions:

  • Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water and let them expand for 5 minutes. Put aside 100 ml of heavy cream. In a small saucepan combine the remaining cream, milk, white sugar, muscovado sugar and liquorice extract and set on low heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar and remove from the heat just before it reaches boiling temperature.
  • Warm the 100 ml of cream that you had put aside. Drain the gelatin and squeeze out any excess water. Add the gelatin to the warm cream and stir to dissolve. Pour cream and gelatin mixture into the saucepan with the other ingredients and stir well.
  • Divide mixture into three serving glasses or moulds. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours or until the gelatin is set and the panna cotta has a firm texture. Decorate with fresh mint leaves or grated liquorice root (optional).

References

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/licorice

GLYCYRRHIZIN

Inhibits 11b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
Tyler V. Herbs of Choice, the Therapeutical Use of Phytomedicinals. Binghamton: Pharmaceutical Press; 1994.

PCOS

Liquorice reduces serum testosterone in healthy women
Liquorice can reduce serum testosterone due to the blocking of 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17-20 lyase. Liquorice could be considered an adjuvant therapy of hirsutism and polycystic ovary syndrome.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15579328/

OESTROGENIC

Estrogen-like activity of licorice root constituents: glabridin and glabrene, in vascular tissues in vitro and in vivo
The study tested the effects on vascular tissues in vitro and in vivo of two natural compounds derived from liquorice root: glabridin, the major isoflavan, and glabrene, an isoflavene, both demonstrated oestrogen-like activities.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15276622/

HYPERTENSION

Life-Threatening complications of Excessive Licorice Consumption
Excessive licorice consumption can lead to complications requiring intensive medicine, as shown by a retrospective analysis of patient data from our center over an observation period of 24 months.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8962506/

DYSPEPSIA

Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a herbal preparation. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.
120 patients with functional dyspepsia were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups. Each patient received the treatment for three consecutive 4-week treatment blocks.
In patients with functional dyspepsia, the herbal preparation tested improved dyspeptic symptoms significantly better than placebo
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14755152/

ANTIMICROBIAL

Antimicrobial potential of Glycyrrhiza glabra roots.
Gupta VK, Fatima A, Faridi U, et al. Antimicrobial potential of Glycyrrhiza glabra roots. J Ethnopharmacol. Mar 5 2008;116(2):377-380.
The present study was aimed to investigate antimicrobial potential of Glycyrrhiza glabra roots. Antimycobacterial activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra was found at 500 microg/mL concentration.
Our results indicate potential use of liquorice as antitubercular agent through systemic experiments and sophisticated anti-TB assay.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18182260/

CYTOCHROME P450 INHIBITION

Cytochrome P450 inhibition by three licorice species and fourteen licorice constituents
Gupta VK, Fatima A, Faridi U, et al. Antimicrobial potential of Glycyrrhiza glabra roots. J Ethnopharmacol. Mar 5 2008;116(2):377-380.
The potential of licorice dietary supplements to interact with drug metabolism was evaluated by testing extracts of three botanically identified licorice species (Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fish. ex DC. and Glycyrrhiza inflata Batalin) and 14 isolated licorice compounds for inhibition of 9 cytochrome P450 enzymes using a UHPLC-MS/MS cocktail assay.
The three licorice species commonly used in botanical dietary supplements have varying potential for drug-botanical interactions as inhibitors of cytochrome P450 isoforms. Each species of licorice displays a unique profile of constituents with potential for drug interactions.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28774812/

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