Glycyrrhiza glabra

Antianaphylactic activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra was evaluated with the help of mesenteric mast cells of rats. The study was carried out by sensitization of the rat mesenteries by using sheep serum and tripple antigen to induce degranulation of mast cells. The mesenteries which are pretreated with prednisolone (10 mg), petroleum ether, methanol and aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (250mg, 500mg and 750mg) were analyzed for the mast cell degranulation during the anaphylactic reactions. Treatment with aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (500mg) showed beneficial effect on degranulation of mast cells in actively sensitized rats. The activity was comparable with that of standard drug, Prednisolone. Antianaphylactic activity of aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra on the mesenteric mast cells of the rat may be possibly due to the membrane stabilizing potential.

The methanolic extract of Punica granatum (PUG), Glycyrrhiza glabra (GLA) and their combination (PUG-GLA) were evaluated for their wound healing activity using excision wound model in rats. Rats treated with PUG-GLA showed higher rate of wound contraction, significant decrease in epithelization period and significant increase in hydroxyproline content of granulation tissue when compared with the controls. The histological examination of treated wounds showed that the original tissue regeneration was much greater in PUG-GLA, with increase in the restoration of collagen fibers, fibroblasts, blood vessel formation and hair follicle regeneration.

Ayurvedic medicine is a well known treatment procedure past many years. Glycyrrhiza glabra also known as Liquorice, sweetwood, Mulhatti etc. It has well known properties such as antiviral, glucocorticoid, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiulcerative, anticarcinogenic and many more. Its indications in dentistry are also well noted such as in oral lichen planus, apthous stomatitis. This herb was tried in the vesicullobullous disorder which is not well recognized. This review portrays the properties, medicinal values such as antiviral, glucocorticoid, Hypocholesterolaemic, antioxidant, toxicities, anticancer, hepatitis, gastric ulcer, hepatocellular carcinoma and dosage of this precious herb.