Indigenous jethi madh may cut India’s licorice import bill

Vadodara: The traditional jethi madh, long used in Indian households to soothe sore throats and aid digestion, may soon find a place in India's export basket, with researchers identifying an indigenous, salt-tolerant variety along Gujarat's coast that could reduce the country's heavy dependence on imported licorice roots."This dependence on imports was always a concern," said Mannu Dwivedi, who conducted the study as part of her PhD under the guidance of Prof. P S Nagar from the department of Botany, faculty of science at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU). "We wanted to examine whether our indigenous variety could serve as a scientifically validated alternative."Researchers found the hardy plant thriving naturally along Gujarat's saline coastal belt, including Kutch, Saurashtra and the Bagodara region near the Arabian Sea, where most conventional crops fail due to high soil salinity. The plant has long been used by tribal communities in the Barda Hills and parts of Jamnagar district as a local substitute for licorice, but this is the first time it has undergone detailed scientific evaluation.India is a major processor and exporter of licorice extract, yet it relies largely on imported raw roots sourced from Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of the Middle East. The processed extract is exported to markets such as the US, the UAE and Germany. Despite ranking among the world's leading exporters alongside China and Uzbekistan, the industry remains vulnerable due to its dependence on imported raw material. Between May 2024 and April 2025, India exported 137 shipments of licorice extract, recording a 19% growth.To evaluate the potential of desi jethi madh, Dwivedi carried out detailed phytochemical studies, analysing 12 major compounds typically found in conventional licorice. All were detected in the indigenous variety, although in comparatively lower concentrations."All the major compounds were present. While the concentrations were lower, the medicinal potential is clearly established," Dwivedi said. The plant was also found to contain natural antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds and plant sterols that support immunity and overall health. Researchers further observed that sweetness levels vary with seasons, increasing during certain periods.A significant advantage of the indigenous variety is its ability to be cultivated twice a year, potentially boosting output if promoted through scientific farming practices. Since it grows naturally in saline coastal belts where agricultural options are limited, researchers believe it could offer new livelihood opportunities for farmers in such regions.Another key outcome of the research is a patented analytical method developed by Dwivedi that allows simultaneous identification of multiple important compounds in a single process — improving efficiency in quality control and large-scale validation, which typically require multiple complex tests.Licorice is one of the world's most widely used medicinal plants and is an ingredient in nearly 1,250 herbal formulations.The eight-year-long study was carried out under a research fellowship granted by the National Medicinal Plants Board under the ministry of AYUSH.