Liquiritiae radix

Liquorice root, drug from the unpeeled or peeled dried root of Glycyrrhiza glabra the liquorice shrub. There are positive monographs from Commission E and ESCOP.

Effective ingredients are: 2-15% glycyrrhizin (according to PH.Eur. at least 4% of dry weight), glycyrrhetinic acid, mannitol, glucose, sucrose, flavone glycosides (e.g. liquiritin).

Indications: Bronchitis, Ulcus ventriculi/duodeni, Aphthae.

An extract of liquorice can also be successfully used for Chloasma.

Severe liver disease, hypertension, existing angina pectoris, terminal renal failure, pregnancy (see also the comments under glycyrrhizin).

Mostly as combination preparations, different tea blends are offered for the different indications:

Bladder Kidney Tea Stada® N, Bladder Kidney Tea Uroflux® Tea Infusion Powder, Bronchostad®, Chest and Cough Tea Stada® N, Buccotean®TF, Dr. Klinger's stomach tea, Fugacid® bladder tea, Fugacid® neurogast tea, urine tea 400, skin and blood cleansing tea, Heumann Bronchial Tea Solubifix® N, Heumann Magentee Solu-Vetan® NG, Kneipp®Gastropressan, Gastrointestinal Tea, Nieron® Bladder and Kidney Tea VI, Orbis® Bladder and Kidney Tea, Orbis® Cough and Bronchial Tea, Renob® Bladder and Kidney Tea, Solu-Vetan® NG cum Belladonna, Warando® Laxative

Lakriment Pastilles® (mono preparation): Dosage: 1-1-1 or 2-2-2/day

1. Jung JC et al (2016) Hepatoprotective effect of licorice, the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, in alcohol-induced fatty liver disease. BMC Complement Altern Med 16:19.
2. Kamei J et al (2005) Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of the antitussive principles of Glycyrrhizae radix (licorice), a main component of the Kampo preparation Bakumondo-to (Mai-men-dong-tang). Eur J Pharmacol 507:163-168.
3. Sun C et al (2008) Analysis of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin in liquorice root with microwave-assisted micellar extraction and pre -concentration. Phytochemical anal 19:160-163.
4. Yang XL et al (2013) Study on in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of total flavonoids from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its ingredients. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 38:99-104.