Liquorice extract is derived from the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra. Liquorice extract is used as a sweetener and as a flavouring agent in sweets and is also marketed as a dietary supplement1. Liquorice extract contains the compound glycyrrhizin.

It was used traditionally for treating a variety of conditions, including lung, liver, circulatory, and kidney diseases. Today, licorice root is promoted as a dietary supplement for conditions such as digestive problems, menopausal symptoms, cough, and bacterial and viral infections.