Licorice root, glycyrrhizin, licochalcone-A, glabridin, glycyrrhizic acid, licocoumarone, antioxidant activity, anti-carcinogenic activity, anti-inflammatory activity and antimicrobial activity
Description : Licorice root is an imperative herb, which has been extensively used for its significant medicinal
Article Details :
Licorice root is an imperative herb, which has been extensively used for its significant medicinal benefits. It has seen that in ancient Egypt licorice root was widely used for preparing sweet drink for pharaohs and it has also used traditionally in Greek, Middle Eastern and Chinese medicine for treating inflammation, stomach upset and upper respiratory tract disorders.
Nutritional overview
- It contains fewer amounts of carbohydrates
- It does not contain enough proteins and fats
- It contains various important micronutrients like Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex, calcium, sodium, manganese, zinc, chromium and iodine
- It is packed with several imperative biologically active components such as glycyrrhizin, licochalcone-A, glabridin, glycyrrhizic acid and licocoumarone, which are responsible for exerting antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-carcinogenic property
Biological properties
Antioxidant property
- Flavonoids components of licorice root have potent antioxidant activities that are associated with preventing oxidative damages of body
- It helps to decrease the concentration of free radicals as well as reactive oxygen species within body and protect the body from their harmful effects
Anti-inflammatory property
- It helps to prevent inflammation by reducing the level of inflammatory mediators within body
- It also helps to prevent swelling and pain
Antimicrobial property
- Glycyrrhizin component of licorice root has strong antimicrobial activity. It is associated with synthesizing antimicrobial peptide, which is responsible for eliminating pathogenic microorganism from body
- It also helps to treat various antibiotic resistant infections
Anti-carcinogenic property
- Glabridin, licochalcone-A and licocoumarone compounds found in licorice root play significant role in suppressing the growth of malignant cell
- Glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhizic acid of licorice root are associated with preventing the growth of tumor cells
- It is very effective for decreasing the prevalence of colon, skin, liver, breast and uterine cancer as well as leukemia
Health benefits
Role on gastrointestinal health
- Extract of licorice root has been traditionally used as an imperative remedial action for treating stomach ulcer as it helps to destroy the bacteria H. Pylori, which is considered as one of the most significant causative factor of stomach ulceration
- It has also seen that it plays significant role in stimulating the release of mucous that helps to protect the lining of stomach from the ravages of hydrochloric acid and pepsin, which also reduces the prevalence of stomach ulcer
- Glabrene and glabridin are the two important flavonoids present in licorice root help to prevent stomach discomforts as well
- Its extract is extremely beneficial for reducing the prevalence of nausea, stomach pain, diarrhoea and heart burn
Role on immunity
- It has strong immune stimulatory property hence its consumption is very much useful for improving overall immunity of the body
- It is closely associated with increasing the resistant power of body thus helps to decrease the risk of developing chronic diseases
Role on oral health
- It plays significant role in keeping the teeth as well as the gum healthy
- Antibacterial components found in licorice root are responsible for preventing the growth of those bacteria, which are accountable for tooth decaying
- It helps to decrease the susceptibility of developing cavities as well
- It also helps to protect the gum from inflammatory damages
Role on respiratory health
- Its consumption is very effective for preventing various respiratory issues like cough, bronchitis etc
- Glycyrrhizin extract obtained from licorice root is extremely helpful for relieving asthma
- It is also associated with relaxing bronchial spasm by getting rid of mucous from lungs
- It plays vital role in protecting the upper respiratory tract from bacterial infestation and infection
Role on skin
- It plays significant role in promoting skin health
- It is associated with protecting the skin from inflammatory damages
- Licorice extracts is very useful for preventing itchy skin as well as skin swelling
- Glycyrrhizin extract of licorice root shows strong antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and prevents various skin Read more
