GLTCTRKHIZA 583 



Glycyrrhiza. Glycyrrhiza. 



Synonym. — Glycyrrhizse radix, B.P.; liquorice or licorice 

 root, E.; reglisse, bois de reglisse, boix doux, racine douce, 

 Fr.; spanisches siissholz, spanische siissholz-wurzel, G. 



The root of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linne and of the variety 

 glandulifera (Waldstein et Kittaibel) Kegel et Herder (nat. 

 ord. Legumiiiosse). 



Habitat. — S. Europe and "W. Asia; cultivated. 



Description. — In long, cylindrical pieces, from 5 to 25 

 Mm. thick ; longitudinally wrinkled, externally grayish- 

 brown, warty ; internally tawny-yellow ; pliable, tough ; 

 fracture coarsely fibrous ; bark rather thick ; wood porous 

 but dense, in narrow wedges ; medullary rays linear ; taste 

 sweet, somewhat acrid. The drug derived from the variety 

 glandulifera (so-ca'lled Russian liquorice) consists usually of 

 roots or root-branches 1 to 4 Cm. thick, 15 to 30 Cm. long, 

 frequently deprived of the corky layer, the wood rather soft, 

 and usually more or less cleft. 



Constituents. — 1, a yellow, sweet, amorphous glucoside, 

 glycyrrhizin (Co^HogOg), about 6 per cent.; 2, glycyramin ; 3, 

 asparagin, about 3 per cent.; 4, an acrid resin; 5, starch; 6, 

 glucose. 



PREPARATIONS. 



Extractum Glycyrrhizce Fluidum, Fluid Extract of Glycyrrhiza. 



(U. S. P,) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with water of ammonia, 

 alcohol and water, and evaporation, so that 1 Cc, = 1 Gm. of the crude 

 drug. 



Dose of the root or fluid extract is unimportant. 



Extractum Olycyrrhizae. Liquidum. (B. P.) 

 Dose. — Unimportant 



Action and Uses. — Liquorice is demulcent and slightly 

 laxative. The powdered root is employed as an excipient 

 in making electuaries, since it is soothing to the throat. It 

 is also used as an excipient in the preparation of balls, and 

 more or less successfully conceals, in the form of the fluid 



