ABSTRACT
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra and other related species) is one of the most widely used medicinal plants, employed in traditional formulas since antiquity. It is a perennial herb native to the Mediterranean region and central and southwestern Asia, and is now cultivated in temperate and subtropical regions of the world. The extract is obtained from the dried roots and stolons of the plant. Present-day uses of licorice include applications in medicine and food products. Licorice is commonly utilized in foods as a natural flavoring agent. It is reported to possess soothing, antiinflammatory, and antitussive properties, and is used to treat respiratory and gastric diseases and primary adrenocortical insufficiency. Activity against bacteria and several viruses (including hepatitis, HIV, and SARS-associated coronavirus) has been reported too.
