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Cited by 104Pharmacological Effects of Natural CompoundsTraditional Chinese Medicine AnalysisMedicinal Plant Research

A review on phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, drug interactions, and associated toxicities of licorice ( Glycyrrhiza sp.)

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Husain, Islam, Bala, Kiran, Khan, Ikhlas A., Khan, Shabana I.·2021·Food Frontiers
DOI 10.1002/fft2.110
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Abstract

Since the beginning, human beings have consistently been using plants and their components for the prevention and treatment of various ailments. However, in the last few decades, plant‐based medicines and health supplements are gaining more acceptability and rapid popularity. Licorice ( Glycyrrhiza sp.) is a terrestrial herb belonging to the family Fabaceae and primarily cultivated in European, Middle Eastern, and South Asian countries. Ethnomedicinal uses of licorice have frequently been described in the world's renowned medical systems, including Ayurveda, Unani, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, African, and European traditional medical systems. To date, 30 species of licorice are known, and among them, G . glabra , G . inflata , and G . uralensis are significantly explored for nutritional and pharmacological benefits. The wide range of commercially available products, including herbal preparations, health supplements, cosmetics, and food and feeds preparations use licorice as active ingredient. Glabridin, licochalcone A, glycyrrhizin, and 18‐glycyrrhetinic acid are the notable phytochemicals isolated from licorice and immensely explored for biological and pharmacological activities. Nevertheless, the excessive intake of licorice has also been associated with a wide spectrum of adverse effects on human health. Among them, several are reported to be mediated by modulation of drug‐metabolizing cytochrome P‐450 enzymes. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive description of the current knowledge of licorice, including historical development, phytoconstituents, species‐specific marker metabolites, herb–drug interaction, pharmacological uses, food additive application, and toxicities. We believe this review will provide excellent information to physicians, researchers, and personnel of different scientific regulatory bodies.

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Authors
Husain, I., Bala, K., Khan, I. A., & Khan, S. I.
Affiliations
  • University of Mississippi (US)
  • Rani Durgavati University (IN)
Corresponding author
Khan, Shabana I.
ORCID
Venue
Food Frontiers
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2021-08-31
Volume
2
Issue
4
Pages
449-485
ISSN
2643-8429 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1002/fft2.110
OpenAlex
W3198399895
Cited by
104
References
234
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 1
FWCI
12.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Food Frontiers (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2U01FD004246)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Pharmacological Effects of Natural Compounds
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Traditional Chinese Medicine Analysis
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Medicinal Plant Research
Keywords
licorice, Glycyrrhiza, phytochemicals, glabridin, licochalcone A, glycyrrhizin, herb-drug interactions, drug metabolism, cytochrome P450, ethnomedicine, medicinal plants, herbal supplements, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza inflata

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