Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Glycyrrhiza uralensis, “Chinese liquorice” in English and “Réglisse chinoise” in French, belongs to the Fabaceae botanical family. It is a herb growing to 1.2 m. Native to East Asia, it grows in sandy lands, dry riverbanks, grasslands on hills.

The root is used as a flavouring agent in tobacco and sweets, or simply chewed.

The plant has been traditionally used to treat respiratory disorders, hyperdipsia, epilepsy, fever, sexual debility, paralysis, stomach ulcers, rheumatism, skin diseases, hemorrhagic diseases, and jaundice.

Among its main constituents are glycyrrhizin, lignoceric acid, B-sistosterol, licorisoflavan A, methoxyficifolinol, docosanol, betulinic acid, licoricidin, oleanolic acid, humatakenin, docosyl caffeate, neoglycyrol etc.

• English name Licorice
• French name Réglisse
• Chinese name Gancao