Licorice ( Glycyrrhiza ) is a medicinal herb utilized globally, distributed across all continents except Antarctica, with a history of medicinal application spanning over 3000 years. It has been documented in traditional medical systems across various countries and regions for centuries. Over the course of history, the applications of licorice have evolved from traditional medicinal uses to encompass modern industrial applications. Licorice is incorporated into food products as a sweetener, preservative, and stabilizer, and is used in the cosmetics industry because of its antioxidant properties. Its antibacterial effects also render it a valuable component in toothpaste for maintaining oral hygiene, thereby contributing to human health. In agriculture, licorice plays a multifaceted role by promoting plant growth, improving livestock quality, and enhancing antibacterial capacity and immunity in aquaculture species. Furthermore, it is utilized to enhance the properties of composite materials. The extensive applications of licorice across various sectors have also stimulated trade growth. In addition, licorice contributes to environmental improvement while providing unique ecological benefits. However, future application trends and safety concerns warrant further research. This paper reviews the literature and ancient texts on the traditional efficacy, contemporary multi-industry applications, and safe use of licorice, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the development of licorice-related products and the sustainable utilization of licorice resources.
Zhang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.