Liquorice

Taxobox
name = Liquorice

---

image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Fabales
familia = Fabaceae
subfamilia = Faboideae
tribus = Galegeae
genus = "Glycyrrhiza"
species = "G. glabra"
binomial = "Glycyrrhiza glabra"
binomial_authority = L.cite web
url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?17820
title=Glycyrrhiza glabra information from NPGS/GRIN
publisher=www.ars-grin.gov
accessdate=2008-03-06
last=
first=]
synonyms =
*"Glycyrrhiza glandulifera" Waldst. & Kit.
*"Glycyrrhiza glabra" var. "glandulifera"

Liquorice (UK) or licorice (U.S.) (see spelling differences; pron-en|ˈlɪkərɪʃ, ˈlɪkərɪs, ˈlɪkrɪʃ, or IPAlink-en|ˈlɪkrɪs) is the root of "Glycyrrhiza glabra", from which a sweet flavour can be extracted. The liquorice plant is a legume (related to beans and peas) and native to southern Europe and parts of Asia. It is an herbaceous perennial, growing to 1 m in height, with pinnate leaves about 7–15 centimetres (3–6 inches) long, with 9–17 leaflets. The flowers are 0.8–1.2 cm (1/3 to 1/2 inch) long, purple to pale whitish blue, produced in a loose inflorescence. The fruit is an oblong pod, 2–3 centimetres (about 1 inch) long, containing several seeds.Huxley, A., ed. (1992). "New RHS Dictionary of Gardening". ISBN 0-333-47494-5]

Cultivation and uses

Liquorice grows best in deep, fertile, well-drained soils, with full sun, and is harvested in the autumn two to three years after planting.

Liquorice extract is produced by boiling liquorice root and subsequently evaporating most of the water (in fact, the word 'liquorice' is derived from the Ancient Greek words for 'sweet root'). Liquorice extract is traded both in solid and syrup form. Its active principle is glycyrrhizin, a sweetener more than 50 times as sweet as sucrose which also has pharmaceutical effects. "G. uralensis" contains this chemical in much greater concentration.

Liquorice flavour is found in a wide variety of liquorice candies. The most popular in the United Kingdom are liquorice allsorts. In continental Europe, however, far stronger, saltier candies are preferred. It should be noted, though, that in most of these candies the taste is reinforced by aniseed oil, and the actual content of liquorice is quite low. However, in the Netherlands, where liquorice candy ("drop") is one of the most popular forms of candy, only a few of the many forms that are sold contain aniseed (although mixing it with mint, menthol or with laurel is popular, and mixing it with ammonium chloride creates the very popular salty liquorice.) [ [http://www.food-info.net/uk/products/sweets/liquorice.htm] Dutch website of Wageningen University with English information about "Drop"]

Pontefract in Yorkshire was the first place where liquorice mixed with sugar began to be used as a sweet in the same way it is in the modern day. [cite news|url=http://www.aboutfood.co.uk/places/yorkshire_guide.html|publisher=AboutFood.com|title= Right good food from the Ridings|date=25 October 2007] . Pontefract Cakes were originally made there.

Liquorice flavoring is also used in soft drinks (such as root beer), and is in some herbal teas where it provides a sweet aftertaste. The flavour is common in medicines to disguise unpleasant flavours. Dutch youth often make their own "dropwater" (liquorice water) by putting a few pieces of laurel liquorice and a piece of liquorice root in a bottle with water and then shake it to a frothy liquid. Also popular in the Netherlands is a liquorice based liqueur called "dropshot." [ [http://www.ikdrinkdropshot.nl/main.php] semi-official "drop-shot" site (In Dutch)]

Liquorice is popular in Italy (particularly in the South) and Spain in its natural form. The root of the plant is simply dug up, washed and chewed as mouth-freshener. Throughout Italy unsweetened liquorice is consumed in the form of small black pieces made only from 100% pure liquorice extract; the taste is bitter and intense, also popular in the UK too 'L. Imps'. In Calabria a popular liqueur is made from pure liquorice extract. Liquorice is also very popular in Syria where it is sold as a drink. Dried liquorice root can be chewed as a sweet. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Database, black liquorice contains approximately 100 calories per ounce (28g). [ [http://www.annecollins.com/calories/calories-licorice.htm Licorice Calories] ]

Chinese cuisine uses liquorice as a culinary spice for savoury foods. It is often employed to flavour broths and foods simmered in soy sauce.

Other herbs and spices of similar flavour include anise, star anise, tarragon, and fennel.

It is also the main ingredient of a very well known soft drink in Egypt, called عرقسوس ('erk-soos). [ [http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B3 عرقسوس (Liquorice)] ]

Medicinal use

Powdered liquorice root is an effective expectorant, and has been used for this purpose since ancient times, especially in Ayurvedic medicine where it is also used in tooth powders and is known as Jastimadhu. Modern cough syrups often include liquorice extract as an ingredient. Additionally, liquorice may be useful in conventional and naturopathic medicine for both mouth ulcers [cite journal |title = Deglycyrrhizinated liquorice in aphthous ulcers
last = Das|first = S.K. |coauthors = Das V, Gulati AK & Singh VP |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=2632514&query_hl=3 |journal = The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India | publisher = Association of Physicians of India | volume = 37 | issue = 10 | pages = 647] and peptic ulcers. [cite journal | journal = The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy |year =2004 |volume = 54 |issue = 1 |pages = 243–246 |title = In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of Extractum liquiritiae, glycyrrhizin and its metabolites|last = Krausse |first = R. |coauthors = Bielenberg J. Blaschek W. & Ullmann U. |url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15190039&query_hl=3| publisher = Oxford University Press |doi = 10.1093/jac/dkh287 |pmid = 15190039] Non-prescription aphthous ulcer treatment CankerMelts incorporates glycyrrhiza in a dissolving adherent troche. Liquorice is also a mild laxative and may be used as a topical antiviral agent for shingles, ophthalmic, oral or genital herpes. Liquorice affects the body's endocrine system as it contains isoflavones (phytoestrogens). It can lower the amount of serum testosterone, [ [http://medherb.com/Materia_Medica/Glycyrrhiza_-_Licorice_root_and_testosterone.htm "Materia Medica", retrieved 24 May 2007] ] but whether it affects the amount of free testosterone is unclear. Consuming licorice can prevent hyperkalemia. Large doses of glycyrrhizinic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid in liquorice extract can lead to hypokalemia and serious increases in blood pressure, a syndrome known as apparent mineralocorticoid excess. These side effects stem from the inhibition of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (type 2) and subsequent increase in activity of cortisol on the kidney. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase normally inactivates cortisol in the kidney; thus, liquorice's inhibition of this enzyme makes the concentration of cortisol appear to increase. Cortisol acts at the same receptor as the hormone aldosterone in the kidney and the effects mimic aldosterone excess, although aldosterone remains low or normal during liquorice overdose. To decrease the chances of these serious side effects, deglycyrrhizinated liquorice preparations are available. The disabling of similar enzymes in the gut by glycyrrhizinic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid also causes increased mucus and decreased acid secretion. It inhibits "Helicobacter pylori", is used as an aid for healing stomach and duodenal ulcers, and in moderate amounts may soothe an upset stomach. Liquorice can be used to treat ileitis, leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease as it is antispasmodic in the bowels.cite book| last = Winston| first = David |coauthors = Steven Maimes|title = Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief| publisher = Healing Arts Press|date= 2007]

Liquorice is an adaptogen which helps reregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It can also be used for auto-immune conditions including lupus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and animal dander allergies.

In traditional Chinese medicine, liquorice is commonly used in herbal formulae to "harmonize" the other ingredients in the formula and to carry the formula into all 12 of the regular meridians [cite book | last = Bensky | first = Dan |coauthors = et al.| title = Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition |publisher = Eastland Press |date = 2004| isbn= 0939616424] and to relieve a spasmodic cough.

In traditional American herbalism it is used in the Hoxsey anti-cancer formula.

Uses with tobacco

A significant amount of liquorice production goes toward flavouring, sweetening and conditioning tobacco products. [http://tobaccodocuments.org/profiles/licorice.html] Liquorice adds a mellow, sweet woody flavour, and it masks the bad taste of low quality tobacco. The burning liquorice also generates some toxins found in the smoke, [http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17030731] and the glycyrrhizin expands the airways, which allows users to inhale more smoke. [http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/asp/healthy_living/lifestyle/smoking/relationship/ingredients.asp]

Toxicity

Excessive consumption of liquorice or liquorice candy is known to be toxic to the liver [ [http://www.salisbury.edu/nursing/herbalremedies/Toxic%20herbs.htm "The Nurse's Guide To Herbal Remedies" from Salisbury University] ] and cardiovascular system, and may produce hypertension [ [http://www.zuidencomm.nl/njm/getpdf.php?id=381 "Liquorice and hypertension" Editorial in The Netherlands Journal of Medicine, 2005] ] and oedema. [ [http://www.umdnj.edu/umcweb/marketing_and_communications/publications/umdnj_magazine/hstate/wntr00/pulse/pulse7.htm "A Guide to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants" from Purdue University] ] There have been occasional cases where blood pressure has increased with excessive consumption of liquorice tea, but such occasions are rare and reversible when the herb is withdrawn. [ [http://www.itmonline.org/arts/hypertension.htm Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., "Safety Issues Affecting Herbs: Herbs that May Increase Blood Pressue", retrieved 24 May 2007] ] Most cases of hypertension from liquorice were caused by eating too much concentrated liquorice candy. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3733757.stm "Woman 'overdoses' on liquorice"] , BBC News online, published Friday, 21 May, 2004] Doses as low as 50g daily for two weeks can cause a significant rise in blood pressure. [Sigurjónsdóttir, H.A., et al. [http://www.nature.com/jhh/journal/v15/n8/abs/1001215a.html Liquorice-induced rise in blood pressure: a linear dose-response relationship.] "Journal of Human Hypertension" (2001) 15, 549-552.]

The European Commission 2008 report suggested that “people should not consume any more than 100mg of glycyrrhizic acid a day, for it can raise blood pressure or cause muscle weakness, chronic fatigue, headaches or swelling, and lower testosterone levels in men.” Haribo, manufacturer of Pontefract cakes, stated: “Haribo advises, as with any other food, liquorice products should be eaten in moderation.” A 56-year-old Yorkshire woman was hospitalized after liquorice overdose ( 200 grams a day)," which caused muscle failure. The hospital restored her potassium levels, by intravenous drip and tablets, allowing her to recover after 4 days. [BBC [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3733757.stm Woman 'overdoses' on liquorice] 21 May 2004]

Gallery

Notes

External links

* [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-licorice.html National Institute of Health - Medline]
* [http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/deg_0092.shtml PDRhealth.com] - Profile of Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)
*Chemical & Engineering News [http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff/8032licorice.html article on Licorice]