Due to its sweet flavor, licorice is also popular as a sweetener in candies, and manufacturers sometimes use it to mask the flavor of medications. Some licorice candy does not contain any part of the licorice plant but uses anise oil as a flavoring instead because it tastes and smells similar to licorice.Licorice is available in many forms, including herbal teas, candies, capsules of dried herb, and liquid extract.
There are more than 300 different compounds in licorice, some of which have antiviral and antimicrobial properties.
Some clinical studies investigating the potential benefits of licorice have had promising results, particularly in the following areas:
Eczema is the term for a group of skin conditions that, according to the National Eczema Association, affect over 30 million people in the United States.
Eczema can cause itching, redness, scaling, and inflammation.
Glycyrrhiza glabra extract, or licorice root extract, may be effective against bacteria that can infect the skin, according to a study in the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical ResearchTrusted Source.
The study showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause skin infections, such as impetigo, cellulitis, and folliculitis. In this study, the researchers used extracts from the leaves and roots of the plant.
