What are the effects and functions of licorice?

Have you ever known about the effects and functions of licorice? It can play a good anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect, can fight pathogens, and has a good detoxification effect. However, you must consult professionals for the use of these medicinal materials.

1. Adrenal cortex hormone-like effect

Licorice powder, licorice extract, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid all have deoxycorticosterone-like effects, which can reduce urine and sodium excretion and increase potassium excretion in healthy humans and a variety of animals.

2. Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects

Glycyrrhizic acid has an inhibitory effect on cotton ball granuloma, formaldehyde edema, tuberculin reaction, and subcutaneous granuloma cystic inflammation in rats. Glycyrrhizinamide and sodium glycyrrhizinate can effectively affect the exudative and proliferative phases of subcutaneous granulomatous inflammation, and their anti-inflammatory strength is weaker than or close to that of cortisone.

3. Anti-pathogenic microorganisms

Glycyrrhizin can directly destroy viral cells in test tubes and also has an inhibitory effect on chickenpox and herpes zoster viruses. In addition to its direct effect on viral particles, the antiviral effect of glycyrrhizin is also related to its induction of interferon and increase in natural killer cell activity.

4. Detoxification

Experiments have shown that licorice and its various preparations have a certain detoxification effect on various drug poisonings, animal poisonings, bacterial poisonings, etc., can relieve poisoning symptoms, and reduce the mortality rate of poisoned animals.

5. Antitussive and expectorant effects

After oral administration, licorice can cover the inflamed pharyngeal mucosa, relieve inflammatory stimulation and suppress cough. At the same time, licorice can also promote the secretion of pharyngeal and bronchial mucosa, making sputum easier to cough up, thus showing an antitussive and expectorant effect.