Study of Pharmacological Activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

In article the results of overview research about pharmacological activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is given. Liquorice (licorice) root is derived from the inner part of the root and underground stem (rhizome) of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Fabaceae, the bean family). The peeled drug is of much higher quality than the root with the bark, and is produced in several south-eastern European countries, Turkey, China and Russia. It has a very characteristic taste and smell, and is used in confectionery. The sweet taste also makes the identification of the drug relatively easy and so adulteration is uncommon. The most important bioactive secondary metabolite is glycyrrhizic acid, a water-soluble pentacyclic triterpene saponin which gives the drug its characteristic sweet taste (it is about 50 times sweeter than sucrose). Liquorice also contains numerous flavonoids (chalcones and isoflavonoids), coumarins and polysaccharides, which contribute to the activity.