Glycyrrhiza glabra

(Common name:- Licorice root)

Classification

• Kingdom- Plantae
• Class- Magnoliopsida
• Order- Fabales
• (Family- Fabaceae
• Subfamily- Faboideae
• Family- Asteraceae
• Genus- Glycyrrhiza
• Species- G. glabra

History

Licorice is a legume plant a native to southern Europe and parts of Asia. This plant is basically used to extract a sweet compound.

Licorice is been used from older times in medicines throughout the world in China, India, Greek and Egypt.

Plant Description

Licorice is a hardy perennial which grows upto 1 m in height. The leaves are pinnate of about 7-15 cm long having 9-17 leaflets.

The flowers of this plant are purple to pale whitish blue and 0.8-1.2 cm long.

The fruit is an oblong pod and 2-3 cm long containing numerous seeds.

The licorice root taste like anise having sweet taste and no odour.

Cultivation

Licorice plant thrives in deep, fertile, well-drained soils and full sunlight is required for proper growth.


The harvesting period of this root is autumn, after two to three years of planting.

Parts Used

Roots.

Constituents

IActive compound of licorice are glycyrrhizin which makes this root sweet. Other constituents of licorice are magnesium, silicon and thiamine.

Culinary uses

• Licorice flavour is added to various candies and other confectionaries. Its flavour is also added in soft drinks.
• Licorice roots are chewed raw when it is fresh, as a mouth freshener.
• In some countries licorice is chewed as a sweet. In Chinese cuisines licorice is used as a spice in dishes.

Medicinal uses

• Licorice is believed to possess medicinal properties like expectorant, demulcent, spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic and act as mild laxative.
• It roots of licorice are chewed to relieve sore throat. The infusion of licorice root is said to relieve oral inflammation, dry coughs, bronchitis and asthma.
• It is thought to be a good remedy for arthritis and joint pains.
• The powder of licorice roots can be applied to eczema, herpes and mouth ulcers.
• Various researches show that licorice is suspected to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. It is also used for cancer treatment.

Names

• ARABIC: 'arq al sous.
• BENGALI: Jashtimodhu.
• BURMESE: Noekiyu.
• CHINESE : Yang gan cao, Guang guo gan cao.
• CROATIAN: Sladki korijen
• DANISH: Lakrids
• DUTCH: Zoethout.
• ENGLISH: Common liquorice, Cultivated licorice, Licorice, Liquorice, Russian liquorice, Spanish liquorice, Sweet licorice, Sweet wood, True licorice.
• FINNISH: Lakritsijuuri, Lakritsi.
• FRENCH: Bois doux, Réglisse, Réglisse glabre.
• GERMAN: Bärendreck, Echtes Süßholz, Lakritze, Lakritzeholz , Lakritzenwurzel , Lakritzpflanze, Spanisches Süßholz, Süßholz, Süßholzwurzel
• GREEK: Ga Glykoriza (Glikoriza).HEBREW: Shush (Shosh, Shoush), Shush kireah.
• HINDI: Jethimadh, Mulethi, Mulhatti, Mulhathi.
• ITALIAN: Liquirizia, Regolizia.
• JAPANESE : Gurukiruriza gurabura, You kanzou, You kanzou.
• KANNADA: Atimadhura, Yasthimadhu.
• KOREAN: Mingamtscho.
• LAOTIAN: Saem.
• MALAYALAM: Yashtimadhukam.
• MARATHI: Jesthamadha.
• NORWEGIAN: Lakrisrot.
• PERSIAN: Shirin bayan.
• PORTUGUESE: Alcaçuz.
• PUNJABI: Malathi, Muleti.
• RUSSIAN: Koren solodki, Lakrichnik, Solodka gladkaia, Solodka golaia.
• SANSKRIT: Madhuuka, Yashtimadhu, Yoshtimadhu.
• SINHALESE: Atimaduram.
• SLOVAKIAN: Sladké drievko.
• SLOVENIAN: Sladki koren.
• SPANISH: Orozuz, Ragaliz.
• SWAHILI: Susu.
• SWEDISH: Lakrits, Lakritsrot.
• TAMIL: Atimaduram, Ciimaiyatimaturam, Atimaduram, Athima
• TELUGU: Atimadhuramu.
• THAI: Cha em thet (Central Thailand)..
• TURKISH: Meyan kökü.
• URDU: Mulhati.
• VIETNAMESE: Cam tho.