Licorice root extract is derived from the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant. The name comes from the Greek words glykys and rhiza, meaning “sweet root,” reflecting its characteristic flavor. This botanical resource has been used for thousands of years in traditional healing systems globally, including in China, Egypt, and India. In traditional Chinese medicine, licorice is valued for its ability to harmonize medicinal formulas.
Understanding the Primary Components
The effects of licorice extract primarily stem from glycyrrhizin (glycyrrhizic acid), a triterpenoid saponin. This compound is responsible for the root’s intense sweetness, being approximately 50 times sweeter than common table sugar. While glycyrrhizin provides many beneficial properties, it is also the source of potential adverse reactions.
When consumed, intestinal flora metabolizes glycyrrhizin into glycyrrhetinic acid, its active metabolite. This metabolite is absorbed and drives the root’s most significant physiological effects.
To mitigate the risk of glycyrrhizin-associated side effects, Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) was developed. DGL is a processed extract where the majority of glycyrrhizin has been removed. This allows users to benefit from other compounds, such as flavonoids, while reducing the likelihood of adverse effects linked to the primary saponin.
Supporting Digestive Tract Function
DGL is widely studied for its supportive role in maintaining the integrity of the digestive tract lining. The extract enhances the natural defense mechanisms of the stomach and esophagus. Specifically, it stimulates the production of mucin, a protective mucus that coats the gastrointestinal walls.
This mucus barrier shields the delicate lining from stomach acid and pepsin. This gastroprotective action is why licorice preparations are used to soothe symptoms related to functional dyspepsia, heartburn, and acid reflux. The extract may also promote the healing of gastric mucosa in cases of peptic ulcers.
Licorice components also inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium contributing to gastritis and peptic ulcers. Suppressing this organism offers an additional mechanism for supporting a healthy gastric environment.
Clinical studies suggest that licorice extracts, typically DGL, improve symptoms and ulcer healing when used with standard therapies. DGL is preferred for digestive applications because it provides gastroprotective benefits without the systemic side effects of high glycyrrhizin. This makes DGL suitable for long-term management of chronic digestive discomfort.
Benefits for Skin and Respiratory Systems
The extract’s beneficial properties extend to topical and upper respiratory applications due to its anti-inflammatory and demulcent qualities. Applied to the skin, licorice extract calms irritation, redness, and inflammatory conditions like eczema. This soothing effect is attributed to compounds such as glycyrrhizin and licochalcone A.
Licorice is also valued in dermatology for addressing hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. The flavonoid glabridin inhibits tyrosinase, an enzyme central to melanin production. Additionally, the compound liquiritin aids in reducing hyperpigmentation by helping to disperse existing melanin clusters.
In the respiratory system, licorice root acts as a demulcent, providing a soothing film over irritated mucous membranes. This action relieves symptoms of coughs and sore throats, and the extract is often used in lozenges and gargles.
Traditional use suggests licorice helps with bronchial irritation and acts as an expectorant, supporting mucus clearance from the airways. Its anti-inflammatory effects reduce swelling and irritation throughout the throat and bronchial passages.
Identifying Potential Side Effects
The primary safety concern with standard licorice extract is high glycyrrhizin levels, which can cause pseudoaldosteronism. This syndrome mimics excessive aldosterone, the hormone regulating salt and water balance. Glycyrrhizin causes this by inhibiting the enzyme 11β-HSD2, which normally inactivates cortisol.
When 11β-HSD2 is inhibited, active cortisol increases in the kidneys and activates mineralocorticoid receptors. This activation leads to sodium and water retention, causing elevated blood pressure (hypertension). Simultaneously, the kidneys excrete excessive potassium, resulting in low potassium levels (hypokalemia) and metabolic alkalosis.
Hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and paralysis. Consumption of even small amounts of glycyrrhetinic acid can cause a measurable rise in blood pressure within two weeks. Individuals with pre-existing heart conditions, hypertension, or kidney issues should avoid standard licorice extract.
Licorice root can interact with several medications, requiring medical consultation before use. It may interfere with drugs affecting potassium levels, such as diuretics, and certain blood pressure medications, including ACE inhibitors. DGL is a safer alternative because removing glycyrrhizin eliminates the risk of these serious cardiovascular and electrolyte disturbances.