GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (LICORICE)
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Neurotoxicity (low), Endocrine disruption (moderate), and Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
Cancer 

Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity 

Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity 

Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
lip gloss | 6 products |
around-eye cream | 3 products |
facial moisturizer/treatment | 1 products |
body firming lotion | 1 products |
serums & essences | 1 products |
mask | 1 products |
moisturizer | 1 products |
anti-aging | 1 products |
toners/astringents | 1 products |
Endocrine disruption
Concern | Reference |
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Food additive: herbicide | US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2015. Food Additive Status (Skin Deep®). Appears as: listid: ADD-794; Chemical_Name: Licorice and derivatives; Synonyms: Licorice; ammoniated glycyrrhizin; glycyrrhiza; |
Licorice and its derivative substances disrupt function of the adrenal (corticosteroid hormone) axis. | Somayeh Nazari, Maryam Rameshrad & Hossein zadeh 2017. Toxicological Effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Review. Phytotherapy research : PTR 31(11), 1635-1650. |
Anti-androgenic effects of licorice have been observed in humans. | Paul Grant & Shamin Ramasamy 2012. An update on plant derived anti-androgens. International journal of endocrinology and metabolism 10(2), 497-502. |
Licorice extract exhibits estrogenic activity in vitro. | D T. Zava, M. Blen & G. Duwe. 1997. Estrogenic activity of natural and synthetic estrogens in human breast cancer cells in culture. Environmental health perspectives 105 Suppl 3, 637-45. |
Licorice extracts impacted pituitary hormone secretion in vitro and in vivo in rats. | Ho Young Lee, Dae Young Jung, Hyekyung Ha, Sam Sik Kang, Ju Sun Kim & Chungsook Kim 2007. Induction of growth hormone release by glycyrrhizae radix on rat. Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology 40(6), 979-85. |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
Concern | Reference |
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Licorice consumption during pregnancy is linked to adverse birth outcomes. | Somayeh Nazari, Maryam Rameshrad & Hossein zadeh 2017. Toxicological Effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Review. Phytotherapy research : PTR 31(11), 1635-1650. |
Licorice extract affected male reprodutive function in rats. | Somayeh Nazari, Maryam Rameshrad & Hossein zadeh 2017. Toxicological Effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Review. Phytotherapy research : PTR 31(11), 1635-1650. |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Concern | Reference |
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Licorice and its constituents/derivatives affect the cardiovascular system by disrupting hormones involved in water/salt balance. | Mikkel R Deutch, Daniela Grimm, Markus Wehland, Manfred Infanger & Marcus Krüger. 2019. Bioactive Candy: Effects of Licorice on the Cardiovascular System. Foods (Basel, Switzerland) 8(10). |
Effects on liver enzyme function have been observed in humans and animals. | Somayeh Nazari, Maryam Rameshrad & Hossein zadeh 2017. Toxicological Effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Review. Phytotherapy research : PTR 31(11), 1635-1650. |
Chronic exposure to licorice extract caused liver damage in fish. | Somayeh Nazari, Maryam Rameshrad & Hossein zadeh 2017. Toxicological Effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Review. Phytotherapy research : PTR 31(11), 1635-1650. |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
Concern | Reference |
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Licorice and its constituents/derivatives can impact immune function. | Giulia Pastorino, Laura Cornara, Sónia Soares, Francisca Rodrigues & M Beatriz P. P. Oliveira. 2018. Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): A phytochemical and pharmacological review. Phytotherapy research : PTR 32(12), 2323-2339. |
Neurotoxicity
Concern | Reference |
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Licorice derivatives have exhibited neuroprotective, sedative, and antidepressant effects in various studies, indicating a capacity to elicit nervous system effects. | Giulia Pastorino, Laura Cornara, Sónia Soares, Francisca Rodrigues & M Beatriz P. P. Oliveira. 2018. Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): A phytochemical and pharmacological review. Phytotherapy research : PTR 32(12), 2323-2339. |
Data gaps
Concern | Reference |
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2587 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
Concern | Reference |
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Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status |
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Data Sources
- US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2015. Food Additive Status (Skin Deep®). Appears as: listid: ADD-794; Chemical_Name: Licorice and derivatives; Synonyms: Licorice; ammoniated glycyrrhizin; glycyrrhiza;
- Somayeh Nazari, Maryam Rameshrad & Hossein zadeh 2017. Toxicological Effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Review. Phytotherapy research : PTR 31(11), 1635-1650.
- Paul Grant & Shamin Ramasamy 2012. An update on plant derived anti-androgens. International journal of endocrinology and metabolism 10(2), 497-502.
- D T. Zava, M. Blen & G. Duwe. 1997. Estrogenic activity of natural and synthetic estrogens in human breast cancer cells in culture. Environmental health perspectives 105 Suppl 3, 637-45.
- Ho Young Lee, Dae Young Jung, Hyekyung Ha, Sam Sik Kang, Ju Sun Kim & Chungsook Kim 2007. Induction of growth hormone release by glycyrrhizae radix on rat. Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology 40(6), 979-85.
- Mikkel R Deutch, Daniela Grimm, Markus Wehland, Manfred Infanger & Marcus Krüger. 2019. Bioactive Candy: Effects of Licorice on the Cardiovascular System. Foods (Basel, Switzerland) 8(10).
- Giulia Pastorino, Laura Cornara, Sónia Soares, Francisca Rodrigues & M Beatriz P. P. Oliveira. 2018. Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): A phytochemical and pharmacological review. Phytotherapy research : PTR 32(12), 2323-2339.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006.
- FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
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