Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Medicinal Applications:
This substance has been traditionally employed for a variety of purposes, acting as a general tonic and a soothing agent. It has also been used as an expectorant to aid in clearing airways, as a diuretic to promote urination, and as a mild laxative. Furthermore, it is reported to possess properties that may be beneficial for arthritis and inflammation, as well as against bacterial and viral infections and ulcers. It is also suggested to have memory-enhancing effects (possibly through MAO inhibition), to help with coughs, to act as an aphrodisiac, to inhibit cell growth, to have estrogen-like activity, to provide antioxidant benefits, to help prevent tooth decay, to combat tumors, to block cholinergic activity, and to lower lipid levels, among other potential uses.
Clinical Research:
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 70 patients with confirmed gastric or duodenal ulcers investigated the effects of carbenoxolone sodium. Participants received either 300 mg of carbenoxolone sodium or a placebo daily for the first week, followed by 150 mg daily for the subsequent 3-5 weeks. The researchers concluded that the carbenoxolone group experienced an increase in pH in the stomach's antrum, rising from 1.1 to 6.0, and a decrease in both baseline and histamine-induced gastric acid secretion at pH levels of 3 and 5. Overall, 70 percent of ulcers in the carbenoxolone group showed healing within 3-5 weeks of starting treatment, compared to 36 percent in the placebo group.
In another study, 15 subjects of normal weight (seven males, eight females, aged 22-26) consumed 3.5 mg of a commercially available licorice preparation daily for two months. The results indicated a reduction in body fat mass. Additionally, plasma renin activity and aldosterone levels were suppressed. No changes in body mass index were observed. These findings suggest that licorice and its components may contribute to the reduction of body fat by inhibiting the enzyme 11-ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in fat cells.
Available Concentrations: 18% Glycyrrhizinic acid.