The method is used to treat diabetic complications such as neuropathy,
peripheral neuritis, cataract and retinopathy have shown improvement with
flavonoids present in licorice. The improvement was found to be due to
the prevention of transformation of glucose to sorbitol by inhibiting
aldose reductase enzyme, thus avoiding the accumulation of sorbitol in
several tissues including lens, retina, kidney, blood vessels, peripheral
nerves and striated muscles. Additionally, licorice prepared by
fermentation is rich in amylase which improves diabetic complications due
to increase of cellular enzymatic activity. This drug was prepared by
fermentation of licorice followed by getting rid of glycerizine using
hydrochloric acid and not by boiling for fear of destruction of enzymes
and flavonoids.