Effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra (D-reglis tablet) on pain and defecation of patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Glycyrrhiza glabra has a wide variety of therapeutic effects especially on gastrointestinal (GI) tract and its anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects have also been reported. This study was preformed to determine the effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra (D-reglis tablet) on the pain and defecation of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In a randomized double blind clinical trial, 90 patients with IBS referred to gastrointestinal clinic of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences were randomly selected into case and control groups. Patients in the case group received nortriptyline plus D-reglis (6 tablets in three divided doses for 8 weeks) and patients in the control group received nortriptyline and placebo. During the trial, patients were evaluated for pain severity (based on VAS grade) and defecation condition (with a questionnaire). Data were analyzed by means of SPSS, using relevant statistical tests at the significant level of P<0.05. Although the pain severity showed a decreasing trend in both the case and control groups during the 8 weeks of trial (P<0.001), there was no significant difference between the groups at all times (P>0.05). Compared to the control group, patients in the case group spent less time having normal stool (P=0.02) and more time (P=0.02) having hard stool. It seems that Glycyrrhiza glabra has no significant effect on the pain of IBS patients; however, it may improve the diarrhea or exacerbate the constipation in these patients.