The principal constituent of licorice is glycyrrhiza. Licorice is used for the treatment of asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis and chronic cough. It is a mild anti-inflammatory in arthritis and rheumatism and is used to treat gastric, duodenal and esophageal ulceration or inflammation, heartburn and mouth ulcers.
The root in traditional medicine is used as a drug for strengthening muscle and bone, for increasing physical strength and for curing wounds in peptic ulcer. It is effective in acute cases of conjunctivitis, hyperprolactinemia. Glycyrrhizin, a glycosoid, has been shown to inhibit ulcers in rats and cures experimental gastric ulcers caused by acetic acid administration.
