~ 16 ~ International Journal of Unani and Integrative Medicine 2018; 2(3): 16-19 E-ISSN: 2616-4558 P-ISSN: 2616-454X IJUIM 2018; 2(3): 16-19 Received: 03-05-2018 Accepted: 04-06-2018 Sajad Salim Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, University of Kashmir, Naseembagh Campus, Habak, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Mohd Afsahul Kalam Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, University of Kashmir, Naseembagh Campus, Habak, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Aamir Yusuf Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, University of Kashmir, Naseembagh Campus, Habak, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Suheena Khanday Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, University of Kashmir, Naseembagh Campus, Habak, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Saba Shafi Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, University of Kashmir, Naseembagh Campus, Habak, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Iqbal Mohammad Kashmir Tibbiya College, Shilvat, Jammu and Kashmir, India Correspondence Sajad Salim Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, University of Kashmir, Naseembagh Campus, Habak, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Asl-us-Sus (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), a great munzij-i- balgham (concotive of phlegm) drug of Unani system of medicine: A review Sajad Salim, Mohd Afsahul Kalam, Aamir Yusuf, Suheena Khanday, Saba Shafi and Iqbal Mohammad Abstract Asl-us-Sus is an incredible leguminous herb belongs to the family Fabaceae, which comprises of the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. The plant is found world widely. It is commonly known as Mulethi, and Asl-us-Sus and well known for its munzij-i-balgham (concotive of phlegm) property which makes it useful to evacuate morbid matters produced due to excess or putrefaction of phlegm and which causes so many diseases in human body like, epilepsy, hemiplegia, facial palsy, nightmare, anxiety, sore throat, acute hoarseness of voice, uvulitis, asthma, bronchitis, dry cough, burning micturition, gonorrhea etc. These actions may be attributed due to the chemical compounds have been isolated from the plant, mainly coumarins, flavonoids, terpenoids, volatile oils and amino acids etc. Many research works have been done for its pharmacological effects which validate the concept of humours, diseases occurs due to the imbalance of humours and treatment of the diseases by evacuating the morbid humour from the body using Unani herbs. This review gives an account of the current knowledge on the morphology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological aspects along with its action and uses in the perspective of Unani Medicine. Keywords: Asl-us-Sus, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Munzij-i-balgham, Humours Introduction Unani System of Medicine is well known and effective health care system among various Traditional System of Medicine which has been in existence from several centuries due to its basic concept of humours (body fluids) and diseases caused by the imbalance of the humours and its cure by the evacuation of morbid or excess humours from the body. A large number of drugs derived from medicinal herbs in the treasure of Unani Medicine make it incredible and it becomes favorite Medicare system day by day in the society due to its safe, efficacious, economical and harmless health care which is provided for humankind. Asl-us- Sus is one of the most known drugs of Unani medicine which is obtained from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. of the Fabaceae family. Its root (Bikh-i-Asl-us-Sus) and extract (Rub al-Sus- extractum glycirrhiza) are widely used medicinally for the treatment of various diseases and especially for the treatment of cold diseases like amrāz-i-balghamiyā and sawdāwiā (diseases occur due to phlegm and black bile) such as Sar‘ (epilepsy), Fālij (hemiplegia), Laqwa (facial palsy), Qabus (nightmare), Tawaḥḥush (anxiety), Mālikholia (Melancholia), Khushunat-i-Halaq (sore throat), Boḥat-al-Sawt ḥād (acute hoarseness of voice), Warm-i- luhāt (uvulitis), Warm-i-Sho’ba al-riyā (bronchitis), Ḍiq al-nafas (asthma), Su’āl-i-yābis (dry cough) etc. These effects occur due to the munzij (concoctive) effect and hot temperament of its root and due to the chemical constituents which have been isolated from the plant, mainly coumarins, flavonoids, terpenoids, volatile oils and amino acids etc. Though the adverse effects of its constituents on kidney and spleen and elevated in blood pressure and pseudoaldosteronism have prompted Unani physicians to use it judiciously and cautiously as it is advised to be used after peeling of its bark (Asl-us-Sus muqasshar) which has toxic effects. Due to the sweet taste and demulcent property, it is largely used in manufacture of syrup to reduce the bitter taste of medicines. According to Ibn Baitar the drug is very beneficial especially in diseases of lungs and urinary bladder such as burning micturition and burning sensation in chest. Its extract produces synergistic effect when added with the medicines of liver diseases.