Introduction  Common Name  Mulhati (Liquorice) Plant  Plantation and Cultivation  History of Mulhati  Chemical Compounds in Mulhati  Uses of Mulhati  Medicinal Properties  Liquorice Juice or Extract  Diseases and paste  Storage and Trading  Modern Study  Economy  Toxicity

Liquorice Plant

Introduction   Powdered liquorice root (licorice root) or Mulhati is an effective expectorant, and has been used for this purpose since ancient times, especially in Ayurvedic medicine where it is also used in tooth powders. Modern cough syrups often include liquorice extract as an ingredient.     It is reported abundant in Western China, parts of Asia Minor, Persia, Asian Republics of erstwhile U. S. S. R. and Afghanistan. It is also cultivated in Punjab & Sub Himalayan tracts in India.

Liquorice dried root

Common Name   Mulhati (मुलहठी)  Botanical name: Glycyzrrhiza glabra, Leguminosae         Latin name:       Glycyrrhiza glabra              English name :  Liquorice   root      Sanskrit:           Yastimadhuh              Hindi:               Jethimad,   Mulhati (मुलहठी)  Marathi:            Jeshta madhu            Tamil:               Atimaturam         Telgu:               Atimadhuram          Malayalam        Irrattimadhuram          Kannada:          Jesthamadhu          Indian names:    Yastimadhuh

Mulhati (Liquorices) Plant   Mulhati (liquorices) plant is a  herbaceous perennial, growing to 1 m in height, with pinnate leaves about 7–15 centimeters (3–6 inches) long, with 9–17 leaflets. The flowers are 0.8–1.2 cm (1/3 to 1/2 inch) long, purple to pale whitish blue, produced in a loose inflorescence. The fruit is an oblong pod, 2–3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long, containing several seeds.

Plantation and Cultivation   Liquorices is a hardy plant and occurs in nature on rich forest soils, acidic to slightly alkaline soils (pH 5.5 to 8.2). It inhabits dry cold temperature to Mediterranean climates where annual temperature varies from 250C (summer) and 50C in winter season.  Soil: Sandy loam fertile soils having pH of 6 to 8.2 have been found to promote better root development in India. The plant thrives in locations receiving 50-100 cm of rainfall annually and cultivation supported with irrigation; irrigation beneficial for higher root yield.    PLANTING : This is a long duration crop and the preparation of field should be of good tilth and the fields be leveled well to avoid stagnation of water. The cuttings of the underground stem/root of 15-25 cm possessing 2-3 eye buds are planted directly in the field 6-8 cm deep in the soil at a distance of 90x45 cm. Besides this the rows may be raised 45-60 cm to facilitate irrigation. It should be planted at 60x45 cm spacing. In this manner 250-300 kg of wet weight of stem cutting is required for plantation of one hectare land. The cutting begin sprouting in 15-20 days after planting. Light and frequent irrigation is necessary during spring planting until the cutting sprout and establish themselves in the field. Fresh planting can be raised during  February- March or July-August.   THINNING AND WEEDING: Three to four hoeing cum weeding are required in the first year of planting and in subsequent years two hand weeding-cum-hoeing are considered to keep the fields weed free for healthy growth of plants.      HARVESTING: It is found that high yields are obtained from 2-½-3 year old crop manual digging is performed for harvesting roots but is found very costly. One disc harrow for digging which has proved successful and is highly economical. It overturns the soil, which is left in field for sun-drying; later the roots are sorted out and cleaned. The crop is harvested in  November or December months to obtain roots of high glycyrrhizin acid.  At harvest, the roots contain 50-60 percent moisture and should be dried in the sun for 2-3 days and then in shade for next 10-12 days.

History of Mulhati   Liquorice used as a medicine  were described in Auyrveda texts  thousands years ago. The use of the Liquorice plant was first learnt by the Greeks from the Scythians. The Roman writers, Celsus and Scribonius Largus, mention Liquorice as Radix dulcis. Pliny who describes it as a native of Cilicia, and Pontus makes no allusion to its growing in Italy. Liquorice Extract was known in the times of Dioscorides and appears to have been in common use in Germany during the Middle Ages. The plant is described as being cultivated in Italy by Piero de Cresenzi of Bologna, who lived in the thirteenth century. As a medicine, the drug was well known in Germany in the eleventh century, and an extensive cultivation of the plant was carried on in Bavaria in the sixteenth century, but it is not mentioned in mediaeval lists of plants.     Cultivation on a small scale has existed in England for a very long time. It appears from Turner's Herbal that it was cultivated in England in 1562, and Stow says 'the planting and growing of licorish began about the first  year of Queen Elizabeth (1558).

Chemical Compounds in Mulhati    The chief constituent of Liquorice root is Glycyrrhizin (6 to 8 per cent), obtainable in the form of a sweet, white crystalline powder, consisting of the calcium and potassium salts of glycyrrhizin acid. The plant also contains sugar, starch (29 per cent), gum, protein, fat (0.8 per cent), resin, asparagin (2 to 4 per cent), a trace of tannin in the outer bark of the root, yellow colouring matter, and 0.03 of volatile oil.    Chemical Compounds: Triterpenes of the oleanane type, mainly glycyrrhizin (glycyrrhizin acid), and its agylcone glycyrrhetinic acid, liquiritic acid, glycyrrhetol, glabrolide, isoglabrolide, licoric acid, and phytosterols.    Flavonoids and isoflavonoids; liquiritigenin, liquiritin, rhamnoliquiritin, neoliquiritin, licoflavonol, licoisoflavones A and B, licoisoflavanone, formononetin, glabrol, glabrone, glyzarin, kumatakenin and others.   Coumarins; liqcoumarin, umbelliferone, herniarin glycyrin.   Chalcones; liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, neosoliquiritin, rhamnoisoliquiritin, licuraside, licochalcones A and B, echinatin and others.   Polysaccharides, mainly glucans.   Volatile oil, containing fenchone, linalool, furfuryl alcohol, benzaldehyde.   Miscellaneous; starch, sugars, amino acid etc                                                                                                                                       Uses of Mulhati    Liquorice is largely used by brewers, being added to porter and stout to give thickness and blackness.     Block Liquorice is employed in the manufacture of tobacco for smoking and chewing.     In the United States  a new use for Liquorice Root has been discovered, the waste root being now utilized for the manufacture of boards for making boxes. After extraction of the Liquorice, the crushed root was formerly considered a waste product and destroyed by burning, but under a recently discovered process this refuse can now be made into a chemical wood pulp and pressed into a board that is said to have satisfactory resisting qualities and strength.     The powdered root is useful in pill-making on account of its absorbent qualities, being used to impart stiffness to pill masses and to prevent the adhesion of pills.    Medicinal Properties   Liquorice is a popular and well-known remedy for coughs, consumption and chest complaints generally, notably bronchitis, and is an ingredient in almost all popular cough medicines on account of its valuable soothing properties. The Extract enters into the composition of cough lozenges and pastilles, with sedatives and expectorants.     Fluid Extract of Liquorice is employed for disguising the taste of nauseous medicines, having a remarkable power of converting the flavour of acrid or bitter drugs.    Liquorice was prescribed by early physicians in cases of dropsy, to prevent thirst.    The sugar of Liquorice may safely be taken by diabetic patients.   It is used in a  variety of medicinal preparations  possessing tonic, alterative and expectorant properties, and also for the rejuvenating and highly nutritive qualities attributed to it.   As an anti-hepatotoxic licorice is effective in the treatment of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, for which it is been widely used in Japan. Much of the liver orientated research has focused upon the triterpene glycyrrhizin. This inhibits hepatocyte injury caused by carbon tetrachloride, benzene hexachloride and PCB. Antibody production is enhanced by glycyrrhizin, possibly through the production of interleukin.    Liquorice is used in allopathic medicine as a treatment for peptic ulceration, a similar use to its herbal use in  gastritis and ulcers. It can be used in the relief of abdominal colic. It nourishes the brain-increasing cranial and cerebrospinal fluid.  Liquorice also improves complexion, hair, and vision.   Some of the medicinal properties and uses of liquorice:   * Liquorice is a valuable remedy for relieving pain, discomfort and other symptoms caused by acrid matter in the stomach.    * Lubricating the throat with a decoction of liquorice mixed with honey brings relief in dry cough.   * It is an effective home remedy for sore throat. A small piece of raw liquorice if chewed or sucked provides relief by soothing the inflammation.   * Liquorice is useful in treating pain due to stomach ulcers, as it soothes the irritation caused by acids. Pieces of the dried root soaked overnight in water and the infusion taken with rice gruel helps in the cure of ulcer.    * Liquorice alleviates muscular pains. Taking an infusion of the roots soaked overnight relieves any chronic joint problems.   * The powder of the herb mixed with butter or ghee and honey can be applied on cuts and wounds with good results. The leaves of the plant, applied as a poultice is a useful remedy in scalds of the head and body.   *  It is used in the treatment of myopia. Half a teaspoon of the powder of the root, mixed with an equal amount of honey and half the quantity of ghee, can be given twice daily with milk on an empty stomach in this case.   *  It heals corns which are just appearing. A paste of liquorice sticks mixed with sesame or mustard oil, if rubbed into the hardened skin at bed time softens the skin and the corn decreases in size.   *  It is also used as a laxative in constipation. Its powder is taken with jaggery and water in this condition.   * The sticks of dried rhizomes are soaked in water and the infusion used as a gargle brings quick relief in oral inflammations. Tiny bits of the stick with sugar candy can also be sucked.  *  Liquorice is beneficial in treating patchy baldness. Small pieces of the root are ground in milk with a pinch of saffron to a paste. When this paste is applied over the bald patches at bedtime regularly, hair growth is seen within a few weeks. This is very effective in the initial stages of baldness, excessive hair loss and dandruff.                                                                                                                           Diseases and paste    The medicinal plants have to be grown without chemical fertilizers and use of pesticides. Organic manures like, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Vermi-Compost, Green Manure etc. may be used as per requirement of the species. To prevent diseases, bio-pesticides could be prepared (either single or mixture) from Neem (kernel, seeds & leaves), Chitrakmool, Dhatura, Cow's urine etc.          Liquorice Juice or Extract    The manufacture of Liquorice Juice, or Extract the roots and runners of both wild and cultivated plants are taken up and crushed under millstones to a pulp. Then it is transferred to boilers and boiled in water over a naked fire, the decoctions are run off and then evaporated in copper vessels over direct heat, till a suitable consistency is obtained. It is being constantly stirred to prevent burning. While warm, the mass is taken out and rolled into sticks, stamped and stacked on boards to dry. Extract of Liquorice in rolls has a black colour, is somewhat glossy and has a sharp and shining fracture.   Storage and Trading    The dry roots should possess not more than 10% moisture when these are ready to be stored in polythene lined bags. The roots are cut into pieces of convenient size and shorted into grades, based on thickness.    The yield of dry root at Hissar (Haryana) is recorded between 70 to 80 q/ha. At Anand 10 to 20 months crop has given an average yield of 20 to 25 q/ha.      Modern Study   Modern research has shown it to have effects upon, amongst other organs, the endocrine system and liver. The triterpenes of Glycyrrhiza are metabolized in the body to molecules that have a similar structure to the adrenal cortex hormones. This is possibly the basis of the herbs anti-inflammatory action.   Economy       Return Rs. 3,50,000/- to 4,00,000/-per hectare (YEAR-2001). Due to the volatile market for medicinal plants the  economics may vary.   Toxicity    Excessive consumption of liquorice or liquorices candy is known to be toxic to the liver  and cardiovascular system, and may produce hypertension and edema.   There is a small possibility of effecting electrolyte balance with extended use of large doses of licorice. It has an ACTH like effect causing retention of sodium thus raising BP. It is best to avoid Licorice if the patient has hypertension, kidney disease or during pregnancy.     It may interfere with the calcium and potassium absorption. Do not use if you are suffering from osteoporosis, hypertension.

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