EFFICACY OF GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA LINN. ( YASTIMADHU ) IN LEARNING, MEMORY AND COGNITIVE ACTIVITY -CURRENT FINDINGS AND FUTURE AVENUES

Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn, a novel drug with several well known medicinal properties, has been reviewed here for current findings with regards to its efficacy in improving learning, memory and cognitive activity. A methodical review has been conducted on pharmacological, clinical study articles and dissertation works published from 2004 to July 2008, using PubMed and manual search of bibliographies as source. The pharmacological researches indicate that Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn shows improvement in memory, learning and spatial memory retention enhancement effects in vivo via multiple mechanisms of action, a clinical study on the synthetic derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid shows promising result in improving cognitive functions, enhancement of Medha (Intellect and Memory) was also observed in 2 dissertation works based on the properties of the drug. The present review is on some of the relevant studies on Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn wherein the methods employed, results obtained and mechanism of action of the drug have been explained. The review also emphasizes on the future thrust areas of research upon this drug on the same back ground.