Approximately 10% of the US populations have clinical evidence of duodenal ulcer at some time in their life.
In 1946, Dutch physician, Revers, discovered that his patients with peptic ulcers frequently showed marked improvement after taking the prescription of a local pharmacist in Heerenveen.
This preparation was found to contain the equivalent of 40% of powdered liquorice extract.
Liquorice has traditionally been used as an excellent medicine for peptic ulcers. However, the liquorice compound glycyrrhetinic acid has been found to elevate blood pressure in some people.
Hence, a procedure was developed to remove this compound from liquorice and form deglycyrrhizinated liquorice.
Liquorice is derived from the perennial herb, Glycyrrhiza glabra and comprises glycyrrhizic acid. Other active constituents of liquorice include isoflavonoids, chalcones, coumarines, triterpenoids and sterols, lignans, amino acids, amines, gums and volatile oils.
It has long been used for flavoring and in medicines to disguise components. Medically, liquorice has been prescribed in peptic ulcers disease in Addison’s disease.
Liquorice and peptic ulcer disease
