Mulethi Powder Benefits: 10 Reasons Ayurveda’s Sweetroot Belongs in Your Daily Routine

This is Mulethi's most universally recognized benefit and the one most people encounter first. The herb is a powerful expectorant, demulcent, and antispasmodic for the respiratory system — meaning it loosens mucus, coats and soothes irritated airways, and reduces the spasmodic coughing reflex simultaneously.

Glycyrrhizin and the saponins in Mulethi stimulate the secretion of thinner, less viscous mucus while suppressing the inflammatory signaling that makes the throat and bronchi hypersensitive to irritants. This combination produces faster relief from both dry cough and productive cough than most single-mechanism remedies.

Research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology confirmed that Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract demonstrated significant antitussive (cough-suppressing) and expectorant activity in preclinical models, with mechanisms involving both direct airway smooth muscle relaxation and anti-inflammatory cytokine suppression, supporting its traditional use as a first-line respiratory herb. (Source: Journal of Ethnopharmacology, ScienceDirect)

For sore throat, hoarseness, bronchitis, or seasonal cough, Mulethi powder in warm water with honey remains one of the most effective and safest natural remedies available.

Mulethi is one of the best-studied natural remedies for peptic ulcers, gastritis, and acid reflux. Its glycyrrhizin and flavonoid compounds stimulate the production of mucin — the protective mucus layer that lines the stomach and prevents acid from damaging the stomach wall. At the same time, it has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria responsible for most gastric ulcers.

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), a processed form of licorice with the glycyrrhizin removed, has been shown in multiple clinical trials to match or exceed the ulcer-healing effectiveness of standard antacids while avoiding their long-term digestive side effects. Whole Mulethi powder retains glycyrrhizin alongside DGL-equivalent flavonoids, providing broader anti-inflammatory and gut-healing support.

For people dealing with IBS, leaky gut, or chronic gastritis, Mulethi's ability to simultaneously reduce gut inflammation, heal the mucosal lining, and modulate the gut immune response makes it one of the most comprehensive single-herb digestive remedies in Ayurvedic practice.

Mulethi is one of the most potent natural skin-brightening ingredients in Ayurvedic cosmetic practice, and increasingly in evidence-based dermatology as well. Its primary skin-active compound, glabridin, is a potent inhibitor of tyrosinase — the enzyme responsible for converting tyrosine into melanin. By reducing melanin synthesis at the enzymatic level, Mulethi gradually lightens dark spots, uneven skin tone, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and sun damage.

Unlike hydroquinone (the synthetic depigmenting agent used in many pharmaceutical skin products), glabridin does not carry risks of ochronosis (paradoxical skin darkening with overuse) or cytotoxicity. Multiple dermatological studies have confirmed glabridin's safety and efficacy for hyperpigmentation at concentrations commonly found in Mulethi extracts.

Additionally, Mulethi's anti-inflammatory compounds reduce the post-inflammatory pigmentation that follows acne, eczema flares, or sun exposure. Its antioxidant flavonoids protect skin cells from UV-induced oxidative damage, making it useful both for correcting existing pigmentation and preventing new hyperpigmentation from forming.

Glycyrrhizin, Mulethi's primary saponin, has demonstrated broad-spectrum antiviral activity against a range of viruses including influenza, hepatitis C, herpes simplex, and respiratory viruses. Its mechanism involves both direct interference with viral replication and modulation of the host immune response — increasing the production of interferon (the body's natural antiviral protein) while reducing the excessive inflammatory response that causes much of the symptom burden during viral illness.

A review published on the National Institutes of Health / PubMed platform examining the immunomodulatory properties of Glycyrrhiza glabra found that glycyrrhizin and its metabolite glycyrrhetinic acid demonstrate significant immunostimulatory effects including enhanced natural killer cell activity, increased macrophage phagocytosis, and potentiation of interferon production — all of which contribute to faster resolution of viral infections and reduced symptom severity. (Source: PubMed / National Institutes of Health)

For seasonal immune support, Mulethi powder taken in warm water or milk during winter months is one of Ayurveda's most practical and evidence-aligned recommendations.

Mulethi is one of the most potent natural anti-inflammatory herbs available, with mechanisms that operate at multiple levels of the inflammatory cascade. Glycyrrhetinic acid, the metabolite of glycyrrhizin, inhibits both COX-2 (the enzyme targeted by NSAIDs like ibuprofen) and phospholipase A2 (an enzyme that generates pro-inflammatory prostaglandins). This dual inhibition produces anti-inflammatory effects that are mechanistically comparable to pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories but without the gastric damage that NSAIDs commonly cause.

Its flavonoids, particularly liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin, additionally suppress NF-kB signaling — the master inflammatory transcription factor that drives chronic low-grade inflammation in conditions like metabolic syndrome, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and autoimmune disorders.

For people managing chronic inflammatory conditions, Mulethi's combination of immediate COX-2 inhibition and deeper NF-kB modulation makes it a more comprehensive anti-inflammatory tool than most single-compound herbal or pharmaceutical remedies.

The liver is the body's primary detoxification and metabolic organ, and Mulethi has one of the most well-documented hepatoprotective profiles of any medicinal herb. Glycyrrhizin has been used clinically in Japan for decades as an intravenous treatment for chronic hepatitis — a use that has generated substantial evidence for its liver-protective mechanisms.

At the level of liver function, Mulethi reduces hepatic inflammation, prevents liver cell apoptosis (programmed cell death) triggered by toxins and viral damage, improves liver enzyme levels (ALT and AST), and has shown anti-fibrotic effects that may slow the progression of chronic liver disease. Its antioxidant compounds protect hepatocytes from oxidative stress, which is a major driver of liver damage in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease.

For people with elevated liver enzymes, fatty liver, or chronic exposure to dietary or environmental liver stressors, Mulethi powder is one of the most clinically supported natural hepatoprotective options available.

Mulethi contains several phytoestrogenic isoflavones, particularly formononetin and liquiritigenin, that interact with estrogen receptors in the body. This makes it useful for managing hormonal imbalances that affect women across multiple life stages — from menstrual irregularity and PCOS in reproductive years, to perimenopause symptoms in midlife.

In PCOS specifically, Mulethi has shown the ability to reduce serum testosterone levels and androgen activity through its isoflavone content, which is particularly relevant since elevated androgens are central to the PCOS phenotype in most affected women. Several Ayurvedic formulations for PCOS combine Mulethi with Shatavari and Ashwagandha for this reason.

For perimenopausal women, Mulethi's mild phytoestrogenic action can help reduce hot flashes, mood fluctuations, and vaginal dryness without the risks associated with synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Its cortisol-modulating properties (discussed in the next section) also help manage the adrenal stress component that often intensifies menopausal symptoms.

One of Mulethi's most physiologically interesting mechanisms is its effect on cortisol metabolism. Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits the enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD2), which is responsible for converting active cortisol to inactive cortisone in tissues. By slowing this conversion, Mulethi effectively prolongs the availability of cortisol at tissue receptor sites.

For people with adrenal fatigue or chronic low cortisol (as can occur in burnout, prolonged stress, or Addison's disease), this mechanism means Mulethi can help maintain adequate cortisol signaling even when the adrenal glands are producing below-optimal amounts. This is why it is used in Ayurvedic and integrative medicine for fatigue, low energy, poor stress tolerance, and the flat affect that characterizes adrenal insufficiency.

This same mechanism also means that Mulethi should be used with caution in people who already have elevated cortisol or hypertension, as discussed in the cautions section below.

Mulethi has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic hair care for its ability to nourish the scalp, reduce hair fall, and promote thicker, stronger hair growth. Its mechanisms here are multiple: the anti-inflammatory compounds reduce scalp inflammation that contributes to follicle miniaturization and hair thinning. The phytoestrogenic isoflavones may counteract androgenic hair loss in both men and women. The antimicrobial compounds reduce scalp dandruff and fungal infections that impair follicle health.

Additionally, Mulethi improves circulation at the scalp level through its vasodilatory effects, which ensures better nutrient and oxygen delivery to hair follicles. When applied topically as a paste or infused oil, it directly conditions the scalp, reduces sebum overproduction, and has a mild DHT-inhibiting effect that may slow androgenic hair thinning over time.

Mulethi's inclusion in the Ayurvedic medhya rasayana category — a group of herbs specifically identified for brain and cognitive health — reflects centuries of clinical observation that it supports mental clarity, focus, and memory. Modern research is beginning to characterize the mechanisms behind this traditional claim.

Isoliquiritigenin and other flavonoids in Mulethi have shown neuroprotective effects in preclinical models, including reduction of beta-amyloid formation (associated with Alzheimer's disease), protection of neurons from oxidative stress, and modulation of acetylcholine levels (the neurotransmitter central to memory and learning). Its anti-inflammatory action on the brain, by reducing neuroinflammatory cytokines that impair cognitive function, provides an additional pathway for cognitive support.

While human clinical trials on Mulethi specifically for cognitive enhancement are still limited, the mechanistic evidence combined with its long traditional use as a medhya herb makes it a valuable component in formulations aimed at mental clarity, focus, and long-term brain health.