Xia, Wenxin, Wang, Yushu, Tao, Mengxin et al. · International journal of biological macromolecules · 2024 · DOI
This study examined how processing licorice root with honey affects its ability to help with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Researchers found that honey-processed licorice contains higher amounts of certain beneficial components and produced stronger improvements in immune markers (IL-2, IFN-γ, and IgA) compared to raw licorice. The honey processing appears to enhance the plant's natural ability to support the immune system.
Immune dysregulation is central to ME/CFS pathophysiology, particularly involving T-cell abnormalities, NK cell dysfunction, and reduced immunoglobulin production. This study identifies a potential mechanism by which processed licorice may modulate these immune pathways, offering a biochemical rationale for investigating traditional herbal approaches in CFS. The enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity effect is particularly relevant, as NK cell dysfunction is well-documented in ME/CFS patients.
This study does not demonstrate efficacy in actual ME/CFS patients—all findings are from laboratory and preclinical models. It does not establish that oral consumption of honey-processed licorice will produce the observed immune changes in humans, nor does it prove these immune changes would reduce fatigue or other CFS symptoms. The study is mechanistic, not clinical evidence of treatment benefit.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Xia, Wenxin, Wang, Yushu, Tao, Mengxin, Li, Tingting, & Fu, Xueyan (2024). Effect of Licorice polysaccharides before and after honey-processing on improving chronic fatigue syndrome and its mechanism.. International journal of biological macromolecules. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133968
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-xia-2024-effect-licorice,
author = {Xia, Wenxin and Wang, Yushu and Tao, Mengxin and Li, Tingting and Fu, Xueyan},
title = {Effect of Licorice polysaccharides before and after honey-processing on improving chronic fatigue syndrome and its mechanism.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133968},
note = {PubMed: 39029844},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/xia-2024-effect-licorice},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/xia-2024-effect-licorice
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