Liquorice Root

Liquorice is a perennial plant that belongs to the Papilionaceae family. It can be usually found in Libya, Asia minor, southern Europe and it is also widely cultivated in Poland. Liquorice root contains triterpenic saponins (i.a. glycyrrhizin), triterpenes (i.a. glycyrrhetinic acid, echinate acid, glabric acid), flavonoids. It can be used in a dry form or extract. Liquorice root has expectorant, anti-inflammatory and diastolic effects on bronchial and gastrointestinal smooth muscles. Glycyrrhizin has an anti-inflammatory effect on the gastric and intestinal mucosa.