to teeth. Since about the 1970s, has become rarer and been replaced by easier to consume candies (including 'drop'). Pontefract in Yorkshire, England, is where liquorice mixed with sugar began to be used as a sweet in the contemporary way. Pontefract cakes were originally made there. In Cumbria, County Durham, Yorkshire and Lancashire, it is colloquially known as 'Spanish', supposedly because Spanish monks grew liquorice root at Rievaulx Abbey near Thirsk. In Italy, Spain and France, liquorice is popular in its natural form. The root of the plant is simply dug up, washed, dried, and chewed as a mouth freshener. Throughout Italy, unsweetened liquorice is consumed in the form of small black pieces made only from 100% pure liquorice extract. In Calabria a popular liqueur is made from pure liquorice extract and in Reggio Emilia a famous soft drink is made with name acqua d'orcio. Liquorice is used in Syria and Egypt, and only in Diyarbakır in Turkey, where it is sold as a drink, in shops as well as street vendors. Research Properties of glycyrrhizin are under preliminary research, such as for hepatitis C or topical treatment of psoriasis, but the low quality of studies prevents conclusions about efficacy and safety. Traditional medicine In traditional Chinese medicine, a related species G. uralensis (often translated as "liquorice") is known as (), and is believed to "harmonize" the ingredients in a formula. Liquorice has been used in Ayurveda in the belief it may treat various diseases, although there is no high-quality clinical research to indicate it is safe or effective for any medicinal purpose. The European Medical Agency added liquorice to their list of herbal medicine. Toxicity The major dose-limiting toxicities of liquorice are corticosteroid in nature, because of the inhibitory effect that its chief active constituents, glycyrrhizin and enoxolone, have on cortisol degradation, and include edema, hypokalaemia, weight gain or loss, and hypertension. The United States Food and Drug Administration believes that foods containing liquorice and its derivatives (including glycyrrhizin) are safe if not consumed excessively. Other jurisdictions have suggested no more than of glycyrrhizin per day, the equivalent of about of liquorice confectionery. Liquorice should not be eaten or used during pregnancy. Fungicide The essential oils inhibit the growth of Aspergillus flavus. Liquorice poisoning Liquorice is an extract from the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant which contains glycyrrhizic acid (GZA). GZA molecules are composed of one molecule of glycyrrhetinic acid and