The plant is native to Greece, Turkey, Spain, Iraq, Caucasian and Transcaspian Russia and northern China. It has been cultivated over a variety range in Europe and Asia.
Glycyrrhiza, reveal the origin of the word licorice; the name has nothing to do with liquor, in spite of the variant spelling. Glycyrrhiza means sweet root and indeed one component of licorice root called glycyrrhizin or glycyrrhizic acid, is astonishingly sweet.
Commercial licorice is extracted primarily from the roots and rhizomes of what is called Italian or Spanish licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra typical), along with a number of other closely related species – including Persian or Turkish licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra violacea), Russian Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra glandulifera) and Chinese licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis)
The hemisuccinate derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid is carbenoxolone, widely used in the treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcers.
Licorice roots also contains anethole in its essential oil, which figures so prominently in the favor of anise seed.
Approximately 90 percent of licorice is used in chewing tobacco, cigars, pipe tobaccos and cigarettes, with some use in authentic licorice candy primarily in Europe.
Licorice root has been successfully used in the treatment of asthma, stomach ulcers, bronchitis and urinary tract infection.
Licorice
