Licorices

A species of the genus Glycyrrhiza in the Leguminosae family (Glycyrrhizauralensisfisch.,). Alias the elder of the country. Rhizome and root are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Mainly produces China, the former Soviet Union, the Mediterranean coast and some countries in Central Asia. China mainly produces Northeast and Northwest China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous region. The products are exported in large quantities. Mainly rely on wild resources. Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. G.glabraL. And Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. Glycyrrhiza Batal.It is used for medicinal purposes and is produced in * * Uygur Autonomous region and Gansu Province.

The plant height of Glycyrrhiza uralensis is 30-80cm. The rhizome is cylindrical, the main root is very long, the skin is reddish brown to dark, and the middle is yellow. Odd-pinnate compound leaves. Raceme with butterfly-shaped flowers in pale pansy. The fruit is a pod, covered with spiny glandular hairs. Smooth or nearly smooth pods of licorice and Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

Wild in cool and dry climate and dry calcareous soil, suitable for planting in sandy or sandy loam with deep soil layer and good drainage. Seed and rhizome are used to propagate. The latter grows fast and is a widely used method.

① rhizome propagates. During the harvest in spring and autumn, the small rhizomes without medicine were cut into small segments of 5-10cm, each with 2-3 buds, planted in the ditch according to the plant spacing 20cm, and then covered with soil, suppressed and watered. After the seeds germinated, the seedlings grew too close to the seedlings. Weeding, loosening and cultivating soil 2-3 times a year, and topdressing 1-2 times a year.

② seed propagation. Turn the land about 50cm deep in autumn, apply stable compost or compost to form a high border 1m wide, each with 3 ditches, the sowing ditch is about 2cm, the transplanted ditch is about 5cm, the seed coat is worn before sowing, or soaked in warm water and stored in wet sand from January to February, or soaked in 60 ℃ warm water for 4-6 hours, fished out and placed in a warm place, covered with a wet cloth, drenched with clean water twice a day, and sowed when the crack sprouted. The seeds were sown evenly into the ditch, and the soil-covered 2cm opened holes about 6cm, and each hole sowed 3-6 seeds. Diseases and pests include brown spot CercosporaastragaliWoronichin, powdery mildew Erysiphepolygoni, rust Uromycesglycyrrhizae; aphids, red spiders and ground tigers.

Licorice contains some glycyrrhizin (Glycyrrhizin), which is the potassium salt and calcium salt of glycyrrhizic acid (Glycyrrhizicacid) and is the sweet component of licorice. 18 β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18 β-Glycyrrbetinicacid) was obtained by hydrolysis of glycyrrhizic acid. In addition, it also contains a variety of flavonoids. Taste sweet, sex is flat. It has the functions of tonifying spleen and replenishing qi, relieving cough and expectoration, clearing heat and detoxification, and reconciling various medicines. It is used for weakness of spleen and stomach, deficiency of middle qi, cough, carbuncle and antidote. Licorice preparation is also used to treat peptic ulcer, anti-inflammation, anti-allergy, antitussive and so on. In addition to medicine, it is also widely used in food industry and light industry.