Glycyrrhiza glabra

Glycyrrhiza glabra, “Liquorice” or “Licorice” in English and “Réglisse glabre” in French, belongs to the Fabaceae botanical family. It is a herb growing to 1.2 m. Native to the Mediterranean area and Western Asia, it grows in dry open places.

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 several organic acids, liquiritin, rhamnoliquiritin, liquiritigenin, prenyllicoflavone A, glucoliquiritin apioside, 1-metho-xyphaseolin, shinpterocarpin, shinflavanone, licopyranocoumarin, glisoflavone, licoarylcoumarin, glycyrrhizin, isoangustone A, semilicoisoflavone B, licoriphenone, and 1-methoxyficifolinol, kanzonol R and several volatile components.

• English name Liquorice
• French name Réglisse