Ingredient Encyclopedia

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Ingredient Encyclopedia

Licorice Root (Glabridin) – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Licorice Root Extract (specifically Glabridin, 1$C_{20}H_{20}O_{4}$) is an isoflavan found in the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra.2 In cosmetic chemistry, it is categorized as a competitive tyrosinase inhibitor. Unlike hydroquinone, which can be cytotoxic to pigment-producing cells, Glabridin works by binding to the active site of the tyrosinase enzyme—the "engine" of melanin production—effectively slowing it down without damaging the cell. Furthermore, it contains Licochalcone A, which inhibits the NF-kB pathway, a major inflammatory signaling route.3 This dual action makes it a "Signal Modulator": it simultaneously quietens the inflammation that triggers pigment and the enzymes that produce it, making it the premier botanical for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).