Pharmacological perspective: glycyrrhizin may be an efficacious therapeutic agent for COVID-19

Pan Luo, Dong Liu, Juan Li, Pan Luo, Dong Liu, Juan Li

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the previously unknown pathogen, severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now a global pandemic. There are no vaccines or specific treatments against this new virus; therefore, there is an urgent need to advance novel therapeutic interventions for COVID-19. Glycyrrhizin is a triterpene saponin with various biological functions and pharmacological effects. This brief article discusses the therapeutic potential of glycyrrhizin for the treatment of COVID-19 from the perspective of its pharmacological action, including binding angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2), downregulating proinflammatory cytokines, inhibiting the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibiting thrombin, inhibiting the hyperproduction of airway exudates, and inducing endogenous interferon.

Keywords: COVID-19; Glycyrrhizin; SARS-COV-2.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
SARS-CoV-2 invades human alveolar epithelial cells via the ACE2 receptor and causes exaggerated and aberrant host immune responses. The exaggerated immune responses lead to the overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which might cause functional disability and even death. Exaggerated inflammation could also activate coagulation and spark a surge of airway exudates that contribute to multiple organ failure and anoxia state in COVID-19 patients. Glycyrrhizin might possess therapeutic benefits for COVID-19 with multisite mechanisms, including: a) Binding ACE2 to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. b) Downregulating proinflammatory cytokines. c) Inhibiting the accumulation of intracellular ROS. d) Inhibiting thrombin. e) Inhibiting the hyperproduction of airway exudates. f) Inducing endogenous interferon to combat the SARS-CoV-2.

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