Licorice Herb
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Licorice Herb (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a plant drug, from the Fabaceae family. Limit continuous use to 4-6 weeks for glycyrrhizin-containing products.
| Botanical name | Glycyrrhiza glabra |
|---|---|
| Identity source | Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. I: YASTI (Stem &Root) |
| Also called | Glycyrrhiza uralensis (attribution recorded without a cited source) |
| Family | Fabaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Fabales |
| Also known as | Licorice Herb, LicoriceHerb |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2965732 · Wikidata Q52502809 · NCBI Taxonomy 49827 |
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2017 to 2023, every one with a DOI.
- 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 1Randomised controlled trials
- 10Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Licorice Herb |
What is it made of?
The marker compounds are listed under Dosage forms and preparation, below.
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsules, Tablets, Lozenges, Syrup, Granules, Soft extract, Spray-dried extract, Chewable tablets
Standard Dosage: 1-3 g root powder per day; 250-500 mg standardized extract (DGL) up to 3 times daily; 5-15 mL syrup 3 times daily. Limit continuous use to 4-6 weeks for glycyrrhizin-containing products.
Optimal Timing: 30 minutes before meals, traditionally to support gastric mucosal function (DGL); after meals for digestive comfort; between meals, traditionally for adrenal support; before bed in warm milk for throat soothing
Storage: Store below 25 deg C in airtight containers. Root powder is hygroscopic; protect from moisture (RH below 55%). Soft extract should be stored in well-closed containers to prevent drying. Liquid forms at room temperature away from light.
Marker Compounds: Glycyrrhizin (glycyrrhizic acid), Glycyrrhetinic acid (18-beta), Liquiritigenin, Isoliquiritigenin, Glabridin, Liquiritin, Glabrol, Licoricidin
Synergistic Combinations
- Adhatoda/Vasa (traditionally combined for cough)
- Amalaki (gastric mucosal protection)
- Tulsi (immunomodulatory and respiratory)
- Haridra (anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective)
- Ashwagandha (adaptogenic and adrenal support)
- Pippali (traditionally combined in respiratory formulations)
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1
- 2023. Topical Licorice for Aphthous: A Systematic Review of Clinical TrialsIranian journal of medical sciences. PMID 37786470 · doi:10.30476/IJMS.2022.94467.2576
Randomised controlled trials1
- 2017. Combined Lifestyle and Herbal Medicine in Overweight Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Randomized Controlled TrialPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 28685911 · doi:10.1002/ptr.5858
Other clinical studies and reviews10
- 2022. Pharmacological Efficacy and Safety of Glycyrrhiza glabra in the Treatment of Respiratory Tract InfectionsMini reviews in medicinal chemistry. PMID 34579633 · doi:10.2174/1389557521666210927153001
- 2022. Revisiting liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) as anti-inflammatory, antivirals and immunomodulators: Potential pharmacological applications with mechanistic insightPhytomedicine plus : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 35403088 · doi:10.1016/j.phyplu.2021.100206
- 2022. Atheroprotective Effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra LMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35897875 · doi:10.3390/molecules27154697
- 2021. Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Comprehensive Review on Its Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, Clinical Evidence and ToxicologyPlants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 34961221 · doi:10.3390/plants10122751
- 2021. Glycyrrhiza glabra: An Insight to NanomedicineJournal of nanoscience and nanotechnology. PMID 34739794 · doi:10.1166/jnn.2021.19007
- 2021. A Review of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) Effects on Metabolic SyndromeAdvances in experimental medicine and biology. PMID 34981491 · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-73234-9_25
- 2020. Traditional Uses, Bioactive Chemical Constituents, and Pharmacological and Toxicological Activities of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Fabaceae)Biomolecules. PMID 32106571 · doi:10.3390/biom10030352
- 2020. A Review of the Pharmacological Efficacy and Safety of Licorice Root from Corroborative Clinical Trial FindingsJournal of medicinal food. PMID 31874059 · doi:10.1089/jmf.2019.4459
- 2019. An overview of herbal alternatives in androgenetic alopeciaJournal of cosmetic dermatology. PMID 30980598 · doi:10.1111/jocd.12930
- 2018. Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): A phytochemical and pharmacological reviewPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 30117204 · doi:10.1002/ptr.6178
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.