Can Antiviral Activity of Licorice Help Fight COVID-19 Infection?

Luisa Diomede,Oscar Fumagalli,Marten Beeg,Marco Gobbi,Mario Salmona,Alessio Gamba

doi:10.3390/biom11060855

Luisa Diomede, Oscar Fumagalli + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11060855

Copy DOI

Abstract

The phytotherapeutic properties of Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) extract are mainly attributed to glycyrrhizin (GR) and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA). Among their possible pharmacological actions, the ability to act against viruses belonging to different families, including SARS coronavirus, is particularly important. With the COVID-19 emergency and the urgent need for compounds to counteract the pandemic, the antiviral properties of GR and GA, as pure substances or as components of licorice extract, attracted attention in the last year and supported the launch of two clinical trials. In silico docking studies reported that GR and GA may directly interact with the key players in viral internalization and replication such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), spike protein, the host transmembrane serine protease 2, and 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease. In vitro data indicated that GR can interfere with virus entry by directly interacting with ACE2 and spike, with a nonspecific effect on cell and viral membranes. Additional anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of GR cannot be excluded. These multiple activities of GR and licorice extract are critically re-assessed in this review, and their possible role against the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 and the features of COVID-19 disease is discussed.

Highlights

We have reviewed the antiviral properties of GR and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), as pure substances or as virus
We have reviewed the antiviral properties of GR and GA, as pure substances or components of licorice, from the year 1947 to the date of the search, which involved the as components of licorice, from the year 1947 to the date of the search, which involved following databases: Embase, Medline, and the Cochrane Library
GR is processed by bacteria-mediated hydrolysis and is mainly absorbed as GA and taken up into the liver where it is metabolized into glucuronide and sulfate conjugates

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. In the last decades, with the development of adequate analytical methods, has it become possible to understand the nature of the molecules present in the extracts. This has had decisive importance in defining the molecules’ therapeutic potential. COVID-19 emergency the urgent needor forascompounds toof ease the pandemic, tiviralthe properties of GR and GA,and as pure substances components licorice extract, the antiviral properties of GR and GA, as pure substances or as components of licorice extract, have attracted fresh attention over the last year.

Traditional

Antiviral Effects

Findings

Effects on COVID-19