As　a　popular　ingredient　for　western　and　traditional　Chinese　medicine,　the　root　and　rhizome　of　Chinese　licorice　(Glycyrrhiza　uralensis　Fisch.)　is　often　administered　in　the　form　of　a　decoction.　The　protein　nanoparticles　(NPs)　self-assembled　during　the　process　of　decoction.　A　major　constitutive　protein　(GLP)　was　purified　and　determined　to　have　a　molecular　weight　of　28　kDa　with　an　N-terminal　sequence　of　NPDGL　IACYC　GQYCW.　Over　80%　of　the　purified　GLP　self-assembled　into　spherical　NPs　with　diameters　of　74.1　+/-　0.7　nm　and　zeta-potential　of　-24.3　+/-　1.7　mV　when　boiled　in　Tris-HC1　buffer　(pH　=　7.9,　20　mM)　at　100　degrees　C　for　60　min.　Each　nanoparticle　was　estimated　by　the　SEC-MALLS　approach　to　be　composed　of　approximately　23　protein　molecules.　The　NPs　and　GLP　showed　low　cellular　toxicity　upon　four　types　of　cells　including　MDCK,　L-02,　HepG2,　and　Caco2　cells,　while　the　NPs　promoted　proliferation　of　normal　hepatocytes　by　67%.　The　NPs　solubilized　the　insoluble　astragaloside　IV　by　encapsulation.　The　results　suggest　a　great　potential　for　GLP-NPs　as　a　promising　prototype　of　a　type　of　drug　vehicle,　a　novel　source　of　bioactive　nanomaterials　from　herbal　proteins,　as　well　as　a　new　mode　of　function　with　herbal　components.