Abstract
Natural Plants have the important sources of therapeutics or other human health benefits since the beginning of human civilization throughout history. Today’s there is increasing awareness and general acceptability of the use of herbs, as a medicines, health products, pharmaceuticals, food supplements, cosmetics etc. From the time ancient, human civilizations have been exploring and using various plants and plant products to cure the lethal communicable and non-communicable diseases. Traditional system of medicine including Ayurveda, Unani system of medicine, and Siddha remedies etc. contributed in Health care. The Unani system of medicine is an age old system of medicine which has a holistic approach to treat various disease and disorder and most of the time the drugs mentioned in this system has tremendous effects in chronic communicable and no communicable disease. Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. Belonging to family Fabaceae, known as mullaiti or licorice. It is used in many systems of medicines including Unani system of medicine, Ayurveda. Homeopathy, Chinese, Naturopathy and Siddha to cure various types of complications like hepatitis, ulcers, pulmonary, skin diseases STD, Heart diseases etc. Traditionally mullaiti is used as mild laxative, anti‐arthritic, anti-inflammatory, anti‐biotic, anti‐viral, anti‐ulcer, memory stimulant, anti‐tussive, aphrodisiac, anti‐mycotic, estrogenic, anti‐oxidant, anti‐neoplastic, anti‐cholinergic, anti‐diuretic, hypolipidemic agent. It constituted phyto-constituents such as glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizinic acid, glabrin A&B, glycyrrhetol, glabrolide, isoglabrolide, isoflavones, coumarins, triterpene sterols. Modern botanical applications of the herb continue this tradition with recommendations including the treatment of gastric ulcers, bronchitis, cough, and dyspepsia. Glycyrrhiza glabra is a widely used herb in Unani. Although the review articles on this plant are already published, this review article is presented to comply all the updated information on its therapeutic potency based on phyto-constituents and pharmacological activities and the potency which is described by renowned Unani physicians and scholars. Further this review gives an account of the current knowledge on the morphological characters, microscopic characters, phyto-chemistry, and pharmacological actions present in root of Glycyrrhiza Glabra along with its actions and therapeutic potential in the perspective of Unani system of Medicine.