liquorice

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• liquorice
• Liquorice
• licorice
• licorice-root
• Drop
• Liquorice Root
• Sweetwood
• cultivated licorice

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Glycyrrhiza glabra var. violacea
• Glycyrrhiza glabra var. brachycarpa
• Glycyrrhiza glabra subsp. glandulifera
• Glycyrrhiza glabra var. glandulifera
• Glycyrrhiza glandulifera var. parviflora
• Glycyrrhiza hirsuta var. glandulifera
• Glycyrrhiza glabra var. pubescens
• Glycyrrhiza alalensis
• Liquiritia officinalis
• Liquiritia officinarum
• Glycyrrhiza michajloviana
• Glycyrrhiza hirsuta
• Glycyrrhiza glabra var. caduca
• Glycyrrhiza hirsuta var. echinata
• Glycyrrhiza nadezhinae
• Glycyrrhiza glabra var. glandulosa
• Glycyrrhiza glabra var. laxifoliolata
• Glycyrrhiza glandulifera
• Glycyrrhiza laevis
• Glycyrrhiza officinalis
• Glycyrrhiza pallida
• Glycyrrhiza violacea
• Glycyrrhiza vulgaris
• Glycyrrhiza alaschanica
• Glycyrrhiza brachycarpa
• Glycyrrhiza glabra var. asperula
• Glycyrrhiza glabra var. hispidula
• Glycyrrhiza glabra var. echinata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Glycyrrhiza glabra, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is situated within the genus Glycyrrhiza.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across various regions of Middle Europe. Within this part of the continent, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Austria. Its presence extends further into the territories of Czechia and Slovakia. Additionally, the species is documented within the borders of Germany. Finally, its distribution includes the mountainous and lowland areas of Switzerland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Glycyrrhiza glabra is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse and often arid environments, ranging from cultivated crop fields to more natural, harsher landscapes such as deserts, semideserts, and steppes. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, colonizing areas from a minimum elevation of 150 m AMSL up to a maximum elevation of 3000 m AMSL. Its presence in both agricultural settings and wild, open terrains underscores its adaptability to varying soil conditions and moisture availability within these specific ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

150 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, desert, semidesert, steppe

Life history

The life history of Glycyrrhiza glabra is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Morphologically, it functions as a geophyte, relying on its significant underground structures to survive unfavorable environmental conditions. Furthermore, its classification as a cryptophyte underscores its survival strategy, where the vital regenerative organs are protected beneath the soil surface, ensuring its longevity and ability to re-emerge annually.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Glycyrrhiza glabra is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte. The plant is an independent organism, lacking any parasitic relationship with other flora. Structurally, it is a self-supporting plant rather than a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, it maintains a relatively low profile with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Glycyrrhiza glabra is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying environmental conditions. The vegetative development of the plant involves the production of leaves with specific dimensional constraints, where the leaf length typically ranges from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 19 cm. Complementing these longitudinal dimensions, the leaf width is relatively narrow, fluctuating between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 2 cm, reflecting the morphological adaptations inherent to its physiological structure.

Leaf length max:

19 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Glycyrrhiza glabra is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and distinct seed characteristics. The plant undergoes its flowering period starting in June and continuing through August. Once pollination is successful, it develops fruit in the form of a pod. These pods are dehiscence, meaning they split open at maturity to release the seeds. The seeds produced are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0049325 g; however, individual seed weights can vary, ranging from a minimum of 0.0021 g to a maximum of 0.00792 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

pod

Seed mass max:

0.00792 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0049325 g

Seed mass min:

0.0021 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Glycyrrhiza glabra has 4 reported plant parts identified across 39 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf, rhizome, stem.

Root

1. Neuropsychopharmacologia Hungarica : a Magyar Pszichofarmakologiai Egyesulet lapja = official journal of the Hungarian Association of Psychopharmacology
2. Molecular biotechnology
3. Malaria journal
4. Frontiers in nutrition
5. Steroids

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products
2. Archives of Razi Institute
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. SpringerPlus
5. Microscopy research and technique

Rhizome

1. Phytochemistry
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Stem

1. SpringerPlus

Chemicals

Glycyrrhiza glabra has 527 reported phytochemicals identified across 39 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include glycyrrhizin, Glycyrrhizic acid, Glabridin, GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID, Flavonoids.

glycyrrhizin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of Razi Institute
3. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
4. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Pharmacological research

Glycyrrhizic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
3. Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Glabridin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Antioxidants & redox signaling
5. Analytical chemistry

GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)
3. Electrophoresis
4. Pharmacology
5. La Pediatria medica e chirurgica : Medical and surgical pediatrics

Flavonoids

1. Bollettino chimico farmaceutico
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Archives of Razi Institute
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Liquiritigenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
4. Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

isoliquiritigenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Analytical chemistry
3. Phytochemistry
4. Briefings in bioinformatics
5. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Liquiritin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Saponins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of Razi Institute
3. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
4. Inflammopharmacology
5. Heliyon

licochalcone a

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
4. International journal of biological macromolecules
5. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Activities

Glycyrrhiza glabra has 821 reported activities identified across 39 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiviral, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. The Journal of antibiotics
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. DNA and cell biology

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Microorganisms
5. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of antibiotics
3. Microorganisms
4. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology
5. Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of antibiotics
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Biomedicines

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. DNA and cell biology
4. Biochemical and biophysical research communications
5. Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology

Antimicrobial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
4. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Microorganisms
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Eksperimental'naia i klinicheskaia farmakologiia
5. Pharmaceutical biology

Antiallergic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine
3. BioMed research international
4. Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience
5. Journal of plant growth regulation

Anticarcinogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules
3. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
4. Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience
5. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antifungal

1. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology
2. Biomolecules
3. Food science & nutrition
4. Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience

Conditions

Glycyrrhiza glabra has 260 reported investigations on conditions identified across 39 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include COVID-19, inflammation, hypertension, SARS-CoV-2, cancer.

Covid-19

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
4. Alternative therapies in health and medicine
5. Turkish journal of biology = Turk biyoloji dergisi

Inflammation

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. In silico pharmacology
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. British poultry science
5. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)

Hypertension

1. Journal of internal medicine
2. Journal of endocrinological investigation
3. Journal of human hypertension
4. Journal of hypertension
5. The Netherlands journal of medicine

Sars-cov-2

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
4. RSC advances
5. Computers in biology and medicine

Cancer

1. Fitoterapia
2. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of drug targeting

Gastric ulcer

1. Gut
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Steroids
4. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
5. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Oxidative stress

1. Toxicology and industrial health
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Current pharmaceutical design
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Liver diseases

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology
3. Biochemical and biophysical research communications
4. Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
5. Nutrients

Hypokalemia

1. Journal of endocrinological investigation
2. Australian and New Zealand journal of medicine
3. Zeitschrift fur Kardiologie
4. Minerva medica
5. American journal of nephrology

Fibrosis

1. Cells
2. Journal of oral and maxillofacial pathology : JOMFP
3. Inflammopharmacology
4. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets
5. Materials today. Bio

Preparations

Glycyrrhiza glabra has 78 reported preparations identified across 39 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, Extracts, Glycyrrhiza glabra extract, ethanolic extract, ethanol extract.

Extracts

1. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology
2. Inflammopharmacology
3. Arzneimittel-Forschung
4. International journal of molecular sciences
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

Extracts

1. Genes & genetic systems
2. Microbial pathogenesis
3. Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Glycyrrhiza glabra extract

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
2. Mutation research
3. Planta medica

Ethanolic extract

1. Frontiers in nutrition
2. Archives of Razi Institute
3. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet

Ethanol extract

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Extract

1. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
2. Inflammopharmacology

Hairy root cultures

1. Phytochemistry
2. Planta medica

Hydro-alcoholic extracts

1. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
2. Drug design, development and therapy

Hydroalcoholic extracts

1. Roumanian archives of microbiology and immunology
2. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society

Methanol extracts

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of natural medicines