Licorice root, sweet taste

Products and Uses It is extracted from licorice root and is extremely sweet. Used as a tobacco humectant (prevents drying out), root beer foaming agent, in confectionery, chocolate, cocoa, and chewing gum. It masks the taste in pharmaceuticals such as aspirin. Used as a sweetener, nutrient, and flavoring. 

Most saponins have a bitter taste, but some sweet saponins are known as well. Glycyrrhizic acid from licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), a P-amyrine type triterpene linked to two molecules of glucuronic acid (Fig. 33), is 50 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). Licorice extracts are used to prepare candies (licorice) and as a sweetener. They are also used as mild expectorant and as anti-inflammatory agent. The anti-inflammatory effect is caused by inhibition of an enzyme that inactivates cortisol. On the other hand, this may also lead to side effects such as sodium retention, excretion of potassium, water retention and increased blood pressure. 

---