Synonyms: Glycyrrhizae radix, Jesthmadh, Mulethi

Biological Source: It consists of dried peeled or unpeeled, roots and stolons of Glycyrrhiza glabra belonging to Family : Leguminosae

Chemical Constituents:

The chief constituent of liquorice is a Triterpenoid saponin

• Glycyrrhizin (glycyrrhizic acid),

• Glycyrrhizinic acid on hydrolysis yield glycyrrhetinic acid

• Bitter principle glycyramarin resins, asparagin

• The flavonoids,

  • • • yellow in colour, are liquiritin and isoliquiritin.

      • 2 - methylisoflavones and a coumarin viz. liquo-coumarin.

• Carbenoxolone is an oleandane derivative prepared from glycyrrhiza and possesses significant minerocorticoid activity.

Uses

• Expectorant and demulcent.

• It is used in cough mixtures,

• Flavouring agent in formulations with nauseous drugs

• Due to flavonoid content (isoliquiritin)

  • • • • Antigastric effects,

        • It is used in peptic ulcer in the form of deglycyrrhized liquorice (DGl).

        • This form has a reduced minerocorticoid activity and therefore used in treatment of peptic ulcer, for healing purposes.

        • Aglycone part of this glycoside has antispasmodic effects.

• Because of minerocorticoid activity (due to glycyrrhetinic acid), it is employed in place of corticosteroids for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammations and addision's disease.

• Precaution: the heavy doses may cause sodium retention, consequently leading to hypertension, water retention and severe electrolyte imbalance.

• Residual matter remaining in the preparation of liquorice liquid extract is reported to have been used as a foam stabilizer in' foam type of fire extinguisher.

Mechanism of action of Carbenoxolone

• Carbenoxolone is an oleandane derivative prepared from glycyrrhiza and possesses significant minerocorticoid activity.

• It is used as an anti-ulcer drug. It changes the composition of mucous and increases mucosal barrier for the diffusion of acid.

• It is postulated that carbenoxolone inhibits the enzymes which inactivate prostaglandins and suppresses the activation of pepsinogen.

• This drug has marked anti-inflammatory effects.

• It is employed in treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers.

• It is also used along with antacids for treatment of gastric reflux and reflux oesophagitis.

• It has also application in the form of gel for mouthwash in treatment of oral ulcers

Allied Drugs

• G. glabra var. typica : (Spanish liquorice)·:. This plant has purplish blue coloured papilionaceous flowers. It gives out large number of stolons.

• G. glabra var. glandulifera (Russian liquorice) : Ii has a big root stock along with a number of elongated roots, but does not bear stolons.

• G. glabra var. vialacea (Persian liquorice) : This plant shows violet flowers.

References:

1. Trease D. & Evans W.C.: Text Book of Pharmacognosy: W.B. Saunders.

2. Tyler V. E. Brady L. R. & Robbers J. E.: Pharmacognosy; Lea Feibger, USA.

3. Wallis T. E.; Text Book of Pharmacognosy; CBS Publishers, Delhi.

4. Kokate C. K., Purohit A. P. & Gokhale S. B.: Pharmacognosy; Nirali Publications, Pune.

5. Harbone J. B.: Phytochemical Methods: A guide to modern techniques Analysis: Chapman & Hall, London.

6. Bruneton J.: Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants: Intercept Limited.