Glycyrrhizin and antiviral effect on Covid-19

Glycyrrhizin and antiviral effect on Covid-19
Fahiemeh Bahramnejad,^1,* mojtba mortazavi,²
1. Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran
2. Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran
Introduction: Glycyrrhizin is a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins glycoside obtained from the root and stolons of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra. Glycyrrhizin is used worldwide as a natural sweetener and flavoring additive. But its medical uses is more important.
Methods: It has antiviral activity against various DNA and RNA viruses, including HIV and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) associated corona virus.At this article we want to talk about the effect of glycyrrhizin on the corona virus. The coronavirus, which spread from China, and it has spread quickly nationwide and causing severe respiratory problems.
Results: The ACE2 or angiotensin converting enzyme 2 is a receptor that corona virus uses it and entry into target cells, which is recognized by epithelial cells of the lung, intestine, kidney and blood cells.
Conclusion: Glycyrrhizin has been shown to have the potential to bind to ACE2 That less ACE2 is available to the coronavirus. And if glycyrrhizin used in the early stage of this disease can attenuate excessive cytokine storms that cause acute respiratory distress syndrome and septic shock in patients with COVID-19. The reactive oxygen species or ROS accumulate in the inflammatory response that glycyrrhizin inhibit the accumulation of them besides that glycyrrhizin can reduce the replication of virus with the reduce activation of nuclear factor kappa beta(NFkB) ,c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK),p38. According to studies and research glycyrrhizin may also have a role in treatment of COVID-19 indirectly.
Keywords: Glycyrrhizin, COVID-19, ACE2