Glycyrrhizin Inhibits Replication of SARS Virus in Vitro

Sunday, June 15th 2003

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With appropriate patient monitoring, glycyrrhizin may be an effective treatment for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), researchers in Germany report in the June 14th issue of The Lancet. In vitro testing showed that glycyrrhizin, an active component of liquorice roots, is more virotoxic than four other antiviral agents, including ribavirin.

Dr. Jindrich Cinati, of Frankfurt University Medical School, and colleagues incubated two clinical isolates of the SARS coronavirus with Vero cells, which are derived from the kidneys of African green monkeys.

Ribavirin and mycophenolic acid, both inhibitors of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, did not reduce viral replication. Pyrazofurin and 6-azauridine, agents that inhibit orotidine monophosphate decarboxylase, inhibited the virus at nontoxic does.

However, glycyrrhizin was far more potent than the other agents, with a selectivity index of 67, compared with an index of 12 for pyrazofurin. Glycyrrhizin affects cellular signaling pathways and transcription factors and increases nitrous oxide production in macrophages.

Glycyrrhizin was less effective when added before virus adsorption than when added after virus adsorption, the report indicates. It was most effective when added to cells both during and after the virus adsorption period.

Glycyrrhizin has been used for the treatment of HIV-1 and hepatitis C infection, with hypertension and hypokalemia infrequently presenting after several months of treatment. However, "treatment of SARS should only be needed for a short time," Dr. Cinati's group points out.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jun 12
Lancet 2003;361:2045-2046

 

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