COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON HISTORICAL ASPECT OF YASHTIMADHU- GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA L.

Abstract

The knowledge of traditional medicine especially that of herbs and plants, inherited from ancestors is very useful. They are effective and more valuable than the synthetic pharmacological agents. Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn or Licorice is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs and is found in numerous traditional formulas. It has been used in medicine for more than 4000 years. The earliest record of its use in medicine is found in code Humnubari (2100 BC). It was also one of the important plants mentioned in Assyrian herbal documents (2000 BC). Hippocrates (400 BC) mentioned its use as a remedy of ulcers and quenching of thirsts. The drug was also mentioned by Theophrastus and Dioscorides. In traditional Siddha system of medicine licorice is used as a demulcent, expectorant, anti-tussive, laxative and sweetener. Historically, the dried rhizome and root of this plant were employed medicinally by the Egyptian, Chinese, Greek, Indian, and Roman civilizations as an expectorant and carminative. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Headnote

ABSTRACT

The knowledge of traditional medicine especially that of herbs and plants, inherited from ancestors is very useful. They are effective and more valuable than the synthetic pharmacological agents. Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn or Licorice is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs and is found in numerous traditional formulas. It has been used in medicine for more than 4000 years. The earliest record of its use in medicine is found in code Humnubari (2100 BC). It was also one of the important plants mentioned in Assyrian herbal documents (2000 BC). Hippocrates (400 BC) mentioned its use as a remedy of ulcers and quenching of thirsts. The drug was also mentioned by Theophrastus and Dioscorides. In traditional Siddha system of medicine licorice is used as a demulcent, expectorant, anti-tussive, laxative and sweetener. Historically, the dried rhizome and root of this plant were employed medicinally by the Egyptian, Chinese, Greek, Indian, and Roman civilizations as an expectorant and carminative.

KEY WORDS: Licorice. History, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Yashtimadhu

INTRODUCTION

Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. [GG] belongs to Fabaceae family and has been used since ancient times as a medicinal herb. It has been referred in Indian traditional medicine some 3,000 years ago. The active components of this plant have extensive therapeutic usage throughout the world and are subjected to enormous works in recent years. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is also known as "sweet root". The word "Glycyrrhiza" is made from two Greek words: Glykys, meaning "sweet" and Rhiza, meaning "root" (M. Senthil Raja, et al., 2010)

Licorice is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs and is found in numerous traditional formulas. The main active constituent Glycyrrhizic acid is approximately 50 times sweeter than sugar. (Anonymous, Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 2002)

Etymology

The German name Süßholz sweet wood and its Dutch analogue zoethout are probably simply calqued from liquorice.

The characteristic sweet taste of liquorice is also reflected in the Indian names. In Sanskrit, madhu means sweet, pleasant. This element is found in names for licorice not only in Sanskrit (madhuka and yashtimadhu from yashti stem, stalk), but also in modern names of both South and North India, e.g., Marathi jeshthamadha, Bengali yashthimodhu Telugu atimadhuramu and Kannada yashthimadhu. Outside of India, related names are Lithuanian saldymedis and Armenian madudag. The Proto-Indo-European root behind this element is MEDhU honey, sweet for its linguistic affiliation. (The epicenter spices - Licorice, 2012)

The Latin species name 'glaber' bald, hairless refers to the seed pods which have a smooth surface in other species of the genus, the fruits are pubescent. (Kumar Anil and Dora Jyotsna, 2012).

Vernacular names (Juniperandsage - Licorice, 2009)

Sanskrit: Yashti-madhuh. Madhuka

Kannada: Yastimadhuka, atimaddhura

Bengali: Jashtimadhu, Jaishbomodhu

Gujarat: Jethimadhu

Hindi: Jothi-madh, Mulhatti

Malayalam: Iratimadhuram

Marathi: Jeshtamadha

Oriya: Jatimadhu

Tamil: Atimaduram

Telugu: Atimadhuranu, Yashtimadhukam

English: Licorice, Liquorice, Sweet wood

Arab: Aslussiesa

Persia: Ausareha mahaka

France: Boisdoux

Germany: Sussholz

History of Licorice

Egypt

The history of Glycyrrhiza in the Western world as medicine and as food flavoring agent can be traced back 3000 years to the Egyptians and Assyrians. It is mentioned by Theophrastus, Pliny the Elder, Hippocrates, Culpepper and numerous other herbalists over the centuries. Glycyrrhiza is highly valued and extensively used in China. They classify it as a superior herb. It is used in small amounts in many formulas to harmonize the action of the other herbs. It is called the "peacemaker." (Juniperandsage - Licorice, 2009).

Rome

Roman legions considered licorice an indispensable ration for their long grueling campaigns. It was said that the soldiers could go up to 10 days without eating or drinking as the licorice properties helped to build stamina and energy, which allayed both hunger and thirst. In the year 1305, King Edward I, placed a duty on licorice sales, which went to help finance the repair of London Bridge. (Steven Foster, 2009).

China

In the Far East, references to the effectiveness of licorice are contained in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, the first Chinese dispensory. In the Chinese book, 365 crude drugs are classified into three classes (upper: plants with lowest side-effects and nontoxic usefulness for health care; middle: plants that are nontoxic or possess only weak toxicity in whose use care must be exercised; lower: toxic and only for clinical use). Licorice is described as belonging to the upper class and is recommended for lengthening one's life span, for improving health, for injury and swelling, and for its detoxification effect. One hundred and ten prescriptions are recorded in the earlier Chinese medicinal book 'Shang Han Lun', where 70 prescriptions include licorice. It is said that licorice is used in as many as half of all traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions. (Taro Nomura, et al., 2002).

Japan

In Japanese Pharmacopoeia, only G. glabra and G. uralensis are permitted to be used as licorice and licorice powder, and the other Glycyrrhiza species can be used as materials of licorice extract. (Benefits and dangers of Licorice, 2012).

United Kingdom

In UK, the Benedictine monks who migrated from Spain during the crusades brought the licorice plant to their monastery in ancient West Yorkshire. This was grown in the old town of Pontefract and the extracts were used to flavor drinks. Around 500 years ago, the locals started to make licorice candies known as Pontefract Cakes. While the plants do not exist anymore in Pontefract the candy is still made to this day. Unlike many other 'licorice' candies which are merely aped up by using aniseed, Pontefract cakes still contain pure licorice with molasses. (Benefits and dangers of Licorice, 2012).

United state of America

G. glabra is native to Eurasia, northern Africa and western Asia, where it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level. It has also been introduced to many countries, for example the USA where it is a weed of moist roadside sites. Liquorice is also cultivated as a crop plant, particularly in Russia, Spain and the Middle East (Kew.org - Glycyrrhiza glabra, 2012).

India

In India, the licorice root carries the ancient Sanskrit name of 'Yasthimadhu' (sweet- stalk) and has been a mainstay of Ayurvedic and other traditional medicines. In ancient Ayurvedic system, more than 1250 preparations are described containing Yashtimadhu as one of its constituents.

In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, herbs were used as special foods, serving to eliminate the excesses as well as strengthen the deficiencies, restore and rejuvenate. Licorice works on the digestive, respiratory, nervous, reproductive and excretory systems. It is an effective expectorant, often combined with ginger to help liquefy mucus and facilitate its discharge. Licorice is used to calm the mind, nourish the brain and increase the cranial and cerebrospinal fluid, and to benefit vision, voice, hair, complexion and stamina. (Chunekar K C, commentary on Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, 2008).

Description of licorice root:

Glycyrrhiza is a 4-5 feet shrub that grows in temperate climates. It is a member of the Fabaceae or pea family and looks similar to a large sweet pea plant. Above the ground the foliage forms on upright thin stems, pinnate leaves with 4-8 pairs of dark green elliptic leaflets 2-3 cms long of fern-like appearance. Young leaves feel slightly sticky to touch. Lavender/blue pea flowers 1cm long, form as axil clusters, followed by 2-3 cms long smooth, brown pods containing 1-7 brown kidneyshaped, pinhead-sized seeds. (Anonymous, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, 2007).

Roots are 1-5 cms thick, have a brown woody appearance, a yellow colour internally, and with fiber that can be pulled apart like a long string. The mature plants have a long taproot that sends out creeping horizontal rhizomes, creating a tangled mass of underground growth. The rhizomes are harvested during fall of the third or fourth year and are shade dried for six months. To assure high quality of the roots, they are collected with a minimum 7 mm diameter and more than 30 cm in length, representing mature roots with high levels of active components. The sliced root is prepared with oblique cuts, with 10 mm diameter slices, having brown bark and yellow cortex and pith.

Different Varieties of Glycyrrhiza glabra-

1. Glycyrrhiza glabra var. typica (spanish licorice)

2. Glycyrrhiza glabra var. glandulifera (Russian Licorice)

3. Glycyrrhiza glabra var. violacea (Persian licorice)

Adulterants and Substitutes-

Manchurian liquorice is obtained from G. uralensis. It is pale chocolate brown in color with exfoliated cork and wavy madullary rays. It is free from sugar but contains glycyrrhizin. Russian loquorice is obtained from G. glabra var. glandulifera. (Kokate C K et al., 2004).

Chemical Constituents-

The chief constituent pf liquorice is a triterpenoid saponin known as glycyrrhizin. Glucyrrhizinic acid is a glycoside and on hydrolysis yields glycyrrhetinic acid, which has a trierpenoid structure. Another important constituent are flavonoides such as liquiritin and isoliquiritin. The Indian loquorice roots have shown the presence of 2- methylisoflavones and a coumarin. (Kokate C K et al., 2004)

Isoprenoid-substituted phenols of Glycyrrhiza glabra

Three varieties of the species have been reported; Spanish licorice and Italian licorice are assigned to G. glabra var. typica, Russian licorice is G. glabra var. glandulifera, and Persian and Turkish licorices are G. glabra var. violacea. About 90 kinds of phenolic compounds have been isolated from the plants. About 50 of them are substituted with isoprenoid group(s), e.g., 3-methyl-2-butenyl (prenyl) group, 2, 2-dimethylpyran ring, etc. These G. glabra could be classified into two groups with the constituents of isoprenoidsubstituted flavonoids. Type I licorice is Spanish and Russian licorices. The main isoprenoid-substituted flavonoid of the plants is a pyranoisoflavan, glabridin. The 5-position of most flavonoids from the type I plants is unsubstituted, e.g., glabrene, glabrol, 3- hydroxyglabrol, etc. Type II licorice is Chinese and Kyrghiz G. glabra. From these plants, both 5-unsubstituted flavonoids and 5-oxygenated flavonoids (e.g., 3', 8-diprenylated dalbergioidin,have been isolated. Nevertheless, most flavonoids from these plants are 5- hydroxy- or 5-methoxy-flavonoids. (Taro Nomura, et al., 2002).

Traditional uses - (Kumar A and Dora J, 2012).

A decoction of Madhuka or its powder was prescribed with honey in anemia.

* Yashti mixed with cow's milk was prescribed for promoting lactation.

* 10 g madhuka powder mixed with 10 g sugar, pounded with rice water was prescribed in metrorrhagia.

* A confection of rice-milk, prepared with yashtimadhu was prescribed in hoarseness of voice.

* Charaka prescribed 10g madhuka powder mixed with honey, followed by intake of milk, as an aphrodisiac and as an intellectpromoting tonic.

* Charaka also prescribed a paste of liquorice and Picrorhiza kurroa with sugar-water as a cardiac tonic.

* Charakadatta prescribed Yashtimadhu and Chandan powdered with milk, in haematemesis.

* Sushruta prescribed the paste of yashtimadhu 10 g, in intrinsic haemorrhage.

* In oedema, the paste of licorice, sesamum indicum and milk mixed with butter was prescribed.

* Warm clarified butter mixed with licorice, was applied topically on wounds, bruises and burns.

* A decoction of madhuka was applied on erysipelas.

* A decoction of the root is a good wash for falling and graying of hair.

Dosage

It is difficult to predict a dose appropriate for all individuals because individual susceptibility to various licorice preparations is vast. Nevertheless a daily oral intake of 1-10 mg of glycyrrhizin, which corresponds to 1-5 g licorice (2% glycyrrhizin), has been estimated to be a safe dose for most healthy adults. (Walker BR and Edwards CR, 1994). Studies of DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated licorice) for peptic ulcers employed dosages ranging from 760- 2,280 mg DGL daily. (Thorne-Glycyrrhiza glabra monograph, 2005).

Pharmacokinetics

Research suggests that after oral administration of licorice in humans, the main constituent, glycyrrhizic acid, is hydrolyzed to glycyrrhetic acid by intestinal bacteria possessing a specialized ß-glucuronidase. Glycyrrhetic acid is 200-1,000 times more potent an inhibitor of 11-ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (involved in corticosteroid metabolism) than glycyrrhizic acid; therefore, its pharmacokinetics after oral intake are more relevant. After oral dosing, glycyrrhetic acid is rapidly absorbed and transported via carrier molecules to the liver. In the liver it is metabolized to glucuronide and sulfate conjugates, which are subsequently rehydrolyzed to glycyrrhetic acid. Glycyrrhetic acid is then reabsorbed, resulting in a significant delay in terminal clearance from plasma. After oral administration of 100 mg glycyrrhizin in healthy volunteers, no glycyrrhizin was found in the plasma but glycyrrhetic acid was found at < 200 ng/mL. In the 24 h period after oral administration, glycyrrhizin was found in the urine, suggesting it is partly absorbed as an intact molecule. (Thorne-Glycyrrhiza glabra monograph, 2005).

DISCUSSION-

G. glabra [Licorice] has been used for centuries successfully to control various disorders in many part of the world. Conclusive evidence is now available regarding various molecular such as treterpenoids, polyphenols and flavonoids present in G. glabra. Their mechanisms of action on cellular level are also being proved. So it is justified to review the historical aspect in view of its future use to control and monitor various conditions. With vast data base available, it can be safely presumed that G. glabra will be a promising candidate for other yet less understood conditions.

CONCLUSION-

G. glabra appears to be a potential herbal drug which is used from Vedic era till date. It is widely used in various parts of the world for various disease conditions. More scientific studies are required to explore the medicinal properties of this antique plant to combat with the diseased world and get rid of them. Such a useful plant species has to be preserved and conserved for future to serve the generations to come.

Sidebar

To Cite this article:

Korhalkar A, Deshpande M, Lele P, Modak M (2012), COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON HISTORICAL ASPECT OF YASHTIMADHU- GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA L., Global J Res. Med. Plants & Indigen. Med., Volume 1(12), 687-693

References

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