Licorice: Resources, applications in ancient and modern times

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Licorice has been widely used as a medicinal herb since ancient times. Licorice is also spelled as “liquorice” and it is known as “Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma” (Chinese:甘草 gan cao) in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Licorice root has a wide range of pharmacological effects, including adrenocortical hormone-like effects, as well as multiple pharmacological effects on the digestive system, immune system, and cardiovascular system. Aim of the review: This review aims to comprehensively investigate the history of licorice and its medicinal and industrial applications in China and other nations, including research and application prospects related to the aerial parts of licorice. Method: An extensive review of the literature was carried out, including ancient and modern texts, doctoral and masters’ theses, monographs on medicinal plants, pharmacopoeias and electronic databases, including Web of Science, Springer, CNKI, and Google Scholar. Results: The ancient and modern applications of licorice were systematically investigated. In ancient times, practitioners in China discovered the medicinal potential of licorice and used it widely. In modern times, licorice is widely used in food, medicines and supplements, tobacco, chemical applications, environmental applications, animal husbandry and other industries. The potential of the aerial portion of the plant is also gradually being researched, developed, and utilized. Conclusion: Licorice is one of the oldest and most widely used herbal medicines in the world. This article reviews its medicinal potential and application in various fields, and briefly introduces current research into its aerial parts. This review aims to highlight the importance of licorice and provide direction for its future development.