Which species is “Licorice”?
“Licorice” spans two traded Glycyrrhiza species — European G. glabra and Chinese G. uralensis (gan cao) — plus DGL, a processed form with the key constituent deliberately removed. Pharmacopoeias treat them as separate articles.
The species behind the name
- Licorice (whole — glycyrrhizin-containing)
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Glycyrrhiza glabra — the licorice of European commerce and most Western supplement labeling; glabridin is its species marker.
- Chinese Licorice (Gan Cao)
Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC.
Glycyrrhiza uralensis (gan cao) — the most-used herb in Chinese medicine; glycycoumarin is its species marker; documented mislabeling between the two species exists in trade.
- DGL Licorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra (deglycyrrhizinated)
DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) — not a species but a processed form with glycyrrhizin removed; the distinction that matters most for blood-pressure safety.
How to tell what a product actually is
- The safety-relevant question is glycyrrhizin content, which the trade name alone cannot tell you — DGL is processed to remove it; whole-root products of either species carry it.
- Species mislabeling between glabra and uralensis is documented in HPTLC/DNA market studies — the binomial on the label is a claim, not a guarantee.
The documented safety difference
Whole-root licorice of either species (via glycyrrhizin) is documented to raise blood pressure and lower potassium with sustained intake — the pseudoaldosterone effect. DGL exists precisely to remove that constituent. Identity and form, not the word “licorice,” determine the risk.
Educational use only. This page explains species identity — it makes no claim that any species works for anything, and it is never a place to decide what to take. It is not a substitute for medical advice. If you take medication, talk to your clinician or pharmacist before adding any botanical, whichever species it turns out to be.