The roots of glycyrrhiza glabra is knonw as Licorice
. The roots of licorice is used for extracting sweet flavour. The licorice plant is found in southern europe and many other parts of asia. To add more sweetness to licorice then glycyrrhizic acid is used which is a anti-viral compound and found to be more sweetner than sugar.
Actually licorice is grown in deep , fertile and well drained soils under fulfledged sun. One's planting is done , it is harvested in the month of autumn.
Today licorice is extracted after boiling the roots of licorice in which water is evaporated. Infact, the name licorice is taken from Ancient Greek glukurrhiza. The meaning of glukurrhiza is sweet root. Mostly licorice extracts are marketed both in solid and syrup forms.
Now a days licorice flavor is used in cold drinks and herbal teas. In many medicines it is used to avoid the unpleasant flavor. Chinese people use licorice as culinary spice in foods. In ayurvedic medicine powerdered licorice root is used in tooth powders known as jastimadhu. Presently, licorice is quite beneficial in conventional and naturopathic medicine for mouth ulcers and peptic ulcers.
As such there is no serious side effects of licorice is found. But it affects the body's endocrine system. It also helps in eradicating hyperkalemia. People should seek ayurvedic knowledge for the use of licorice.