Licorice root is a medicinal plant used for thousands of years in many regions.
Among its many health benefits, licorice has been used to treat infections, reduce inflammation, and support heart health.
This article details the main compounds in licorice as well as its possible benefits, safety, dosing, traditional uses, and implementation strategies.
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What is Licorice?
Licorice, or “Glycyrrhiza glabra”, is a medicinal plant found throughout Asia and Europe. It is thought to have originated in Iraq, although it is cultivated in many Asian and European countries today.
The licorice plant grows naturally in well watered areas with sandy, fertile soil.
While licorice is the English word for this plant, there are many other names depending on the language used, such as jaishbomodhu (Bengali), mulaithi (Hindi), and aslussiesa (Arabic).
Among the parts of the licorice plant, the root is the most bioactive component in terms of health benefits.
Licorice root is rich in many different compounds, such as amino acids, pectin, starches, sterols, and polysaccharides.
The main plant compounds in licorice root thought to deliver health benefits include:
- Triterpene glycosides (particularly glycyrrhizin/glycyrrhizic acid)
- Chalcones (e.g. isoliquiritigenin, isoliquiritin)
- Flavanones (e.g. liquiritigenin, liquiritin)
Among all of these, glycyrrhizin is the most well-researched. This triterpenoid glycoside is extracted from licorice root and has a sweet flavor. For this reason, it is often used in a variety of culinary recipes to make licorice candies and other licorice-flavored food items. But it has many potential health benefits too, which we’ll dig into below.
Health Benefits of Licorice Root
Licorice is a well-researched medicinal herb with many possible health benefits. Listed below are the main potential health benefits of licorice and its bioactive compounds.
1. May Promote Liver Protection
Recent evidence suggests that licorice may benefit liver health.
The liver plays an important role in the body. The liver processes all of the blood leaving the stomach and intestines. The liver helps to support metabolism, immunity, digestion, detoxification, and vitamin storage, among other functions. Maintaining liver health is key for overall health.
In one clinical trial involving patients with chronic hepatitis C, glycyrrhizin treatment significantly reduced alanine transaminase (ALT) (a marker of liver damage) compared to placebo.
A similar clinical study also found that intravenous glycyrrhizin therapy led to significant reductions in ALT in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The therapy was safe and well-tolerated up to 240mg daily.
In another clinical study involving over 1,000 patients with chronic hepatitis, patients treated with glycyrrhizin injections had a significant decrease in liver carcinoma compared to the control group.
One clinical trial involving women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease found that licorice root powder markedly decreased levels of ALT and fatty build-up in the liver compared to the control group. Additionally, women treated with licorice root notably improved insulin resistance and inflammatory markers in the liver compared to the placebo.
In another clinical study involving patients with hepatitis C, long-term administration of a unique formulation of glycyrrhizin reduced the risk of liver carcinoma and liver cirrhosis (chronic liver damage involving scarring).
Also, in a clinical study of patients with chronic hepatitis B, glycyrrhizin administration led to a significant reduction in various enzymatic markers of liver damage. Moreover, this treatment appeared to reduce the risk of liver disease progression.
Lastly, one clinical trial found that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients showed greater reductions in ALT and other enzymatic markers compared to the placebo after receiving licorice root extract.
Summary:
Clinical research indicates that licorice consumption may work to benefit liver health by reducing liver damage and supporting individuals with hepatitis C and B.
2. May Reduce Digestive Problems
Several clinical trials show that licorice root and its compounds may reduce digestive problems by working to treat ulcers and gut infections. Licorice root tea is also considered one of the best teas for an upset stomach.
In one clinical trial on 120 patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, the addition of licorice extract supplementation on top of regular treatment appeared to increase the removal of H. pylori and reduce the incidence of stomach ulcers.
In another clinical study in patients with gastric (stomach) ulcers, licorice root extract significantly reduced nausea, vomiting, flatulence, and other symptoms compared to the control group.
In one clinical study involving individuals with amlapitta (an Ayurvedic condition involving indigestion and hyperacidity), treatment with licorice root powder reduced nausea, heartburn, and belching by over 60 percent.
In a combined in vitro and in situ study, researchers found that licorice root extract and polysaccharides reduced the adhesion of H. pylori to the lining of the gut, which could explain some of the benefits of licorice root on digestive symptoms.
Summary:
Clinical studies have found that licorice root extract may work to aid in digestion and soothe the stomach.
3. May Benefit Dental Health
Licorice may also benefit dental health as there is clinical evidence in favor of licorice root’s effects on dry mouth, tooth decay, and more.
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