Prof. (Dr) R.D. Gupta
According to Trivedi et al. (1981), India did not grow liquorice upto 1980 and used to import it of worth Rupees 5 crore (Rs. 50 millions) from West Asian countries. It has been reported that liquorice used to cultivate in Punjab and Himalayas ,from the river Chenab eastward. The dried peeled or unpeeled underground stem and roots mainly constitute the drug of commerce. Liquorice roots are used in preparation of medicines in Ayurveda, Unani and Allopathic systems. Roots of liquorice possess a sweet pleasant taste and faint odour, and as such liquorice has been known by the name of “Sweet wood” in English.
Medicinal Values:Liquorice roots are mainly used in the preparation of cough syrups and catarrhal mixture, throat lozenges and pastilles. They have been originally used in the thirst abating substances. Roots of liquorice are a tonic and mildly laxative.
Liquorice is given in liver, lungs and urinary bladder problems, root is used in scorpion bite. Its decoction is given in inflammatory affections of respiratory system, bowls and catarrh and urino-gentle system, asthma and dysuria. Roots of liquorice are also tonic and mildly laxative. The extract of the roots possesses healing affect on peptic ulcers.
Liquorice is used in manufacture of the confectionary and brewery industries. It is also used in blending, chewing tobacco in the USA. As already stated, dried peeled or unpeeled underground stem and root constitute the drug of commerce which contain, “glycyrrhizin” ranging from 2 to 14 percent in various varieties. The glycyrrhizin is emendable for sweet taste is the liquoric and it is fifty times as weeet as cane sugar and its sweetness is perceptible even in dilution of 1:20,000 parts. As regards the official standards according to British Pharmacopa, the liquorice roots should contain not less than 20 percent water soluble matter and not more than 10 percent as in unpeeled liquorice and 6 percent ash in peeled liquorice.
It is worthwhile to mention that liquorice is given in combination with many other drugs. For example, it is added to various laxative powders, cough syrup confections, lozenges etc. Root powder given with lemon juice, is a home remedy for cough, colds, pains, breathing problems and bilious fever.Liquorice is any Ayurvedic drug and is born on pharmocopeas. As a matter of fact, liquorice is proved one of the most popular healing herb in Ayurvedic Medicines. It is as popular today as it was 3000 years ago and is freely available today even at the grocers shops. It is a good alternative i.e. it alters the body from diseased negative state to a healthy state. Liquorice is supposed to be bestowed lasting youth and is a soothing rejuvenator (Rasaya). It is demulcent expectorant and germicide with laxative properties.Liquorice has been used with muscle problem because anti-inflammatory anti-arthritic properties. Due to its strong sweet taste, the herb is sometimes used in recipes to mask the unpleasant taste of another herb. In China liquorice is used for strengthening muscle and bone for increasing physical strength and for curing wounds .The herb stands next to Ginseng in importance in China .
Botanical Description:
Liquorice is a perennial legume and can grow up to a height of 90 to 120 cm. It has compound leaves with 4 to 8 oval shaped leaflets. It also bears axillary clusters of blue flowers. It is considered a native to Southern Europe, North Africa and West Asia. Liquorice also grows in other countries like Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Spain and Italy, which are the main exporters. Liquorice is a hardy under-shrub forming long cylindrical rigomes and underground stems.
Cultural Practices:
Climate requirement: The liquorice plant requires subtropical warm type of climate.
Soil Requirement: Initial trials conducted in India revealed that liquorice requires fertile sandy loam soils. However, the growth and development was found luxuriant in well drained black cotton soils.
How to grow: Normally the vegetative propagation has been found more successful and rooted cuttings of underground stem of 15 to 20 cm size having3-4 eye buds are planted during July and February in furrows.For land preparation, one deep ploughing should be given duringsummer followed with planking.
Use of manures: Farm yard manure should be applied 40 to 50 cartloadsper hectare at the time of field preparation. Nitrogen and phosphorous at the rate of 40 kg each should be given before planting as basal dose.
Irrigation: Irrigation is necessary until the plants establish and sprout in the field. Normally, the crops requires 4-5 irrigations after planting.
Pruning and Detopping: The crop should be pruned at 10cm height uniformly from the ground level twice in a year during September-October and February- March.
Harvesting and root yield: Normally the roots are ready for digging in 2.5 to 3.0 years after planting. The roots and rhizomes are cut into pieces of 15 to 20 cm long and 0.6 to 1.8 cm in diameter. The pieces are air dried slowly in shade or under cover in sun.The yield of dried roots varies from 10 to 30 quintals ha-1
(The writer is Ex-Associate Dean Cum Chief Scientist KVK Jammu, SKUAST-J)
