Liquorice, Sweet Liquorice

Scientific Name: Glycyrrhiza Glabra
Common Name or English Name: Mulethi, Sweet Liquorice and Sweetwood.
Marketable use: For commercial purposes, roots of Glycyrrhiza Glabra are used. Its juice which is black in color is imported from several other countries such as Italy, Spain, Russia and Britain.
Environment: It's a perennial growing to a height of 1 m to 3 ¼ ft. Pea flowers of Glycyrrhiza Glabra plant are whitish-violet. There are around 14 species of Sweetwood plant in the world.

In India, it is normally grown in North and South India. It best grows in rich alluvial soil in which there is large amount of moisture.

Seeds for this plant should be best sown in October, February and March. This particular plant flourishes in the ending months of summer season.

Utilization: Roots of Glycyrrhiza Glabra are a source of liquorice used medicinally and as a confectionery ingredient. It's a very useful medicine for curing cough and catarrhal (swelling of mucous membrane, especially of the nose, with a watery discharge) infections and also in severe bronchitis and in some cases of mild fever.

Mulethi is also used as a flavoring agent in tobacco, beverages (drinks) and jams.

Juice of this plant is not used in combination when preparing medicines.

Mulethi or Glycyrrhiza Glabra is a very important component in almost all cough- related medicines. It is also used in treating many menstrual disorders and many skin related diseases.

Interesting Facts:

Glycyrrhiza Glabra fixes surrounding nitrogen, thereby reducing pollution.
Cold weather prevents its roots from the formation of juices making it more woody and tough.
Sugar extract in its roots can even be taken by patients of diabetes.
In ancient times, it was also used for horse related ailments.
Glycyrrhiza Glabra is used as a spice in many western countries than as a medicine.