Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B

A Review of the Antiviral Activities of Glycyrrhizic Acid, Glycyrrhetinic Acid and Glycyrrhetinic Acid Monoglucuronide

Licorice, a natural medicine derived from the roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza species, possesses a wide range of therapeutic applications, including antiviral properties. Glycyrrhizic acid (GL) and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) are the most important active ingredients in licorice. Glycyrrhetinic acid 3-O-mono-β-d-glucuronide (GAMG) is the active metabolite of GL. GL and its metabolites have a wide range of antiviral activities against viruses, such as, the hepatitis virus, herpes virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and so on. Although their antiviral activity has been widely reported, the specific mechanism of action involving multiple links such as the virus itself, cells, and immunity are not clearly established. In this review, we will give an update on the role of GL and its metabolites as antiviral agents, and detail relevant evidence on the potential use and mechanisms of actions. Analyzing antivirals, their signaling, and the impacts of tissue and autoimmune protection may provide promising new therapeutic strategies.

Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation and MM-GBSA studies of the activity of glycyrrhizin relevant substructures on SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent-RNA polymerase

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), which is a life-threatening disease. The World Health Organization has classified COVID-19 as a severe worldwide public health pandemic due to its high death rate, quick transmission, and lack of medicines. To counteract the recurrence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome, active antiviral medications are urgently required. Glycyrrhizin was documented with activity on different viral proteins, including SARS-CoV-2; in this study, the activity of glycyrrhizin and its substructures (604 molecules) were screened on SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent-RNA polymerase using molecular docking, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, and MM/GBSA. Sixteen molecules exhibited docking energy higher than -7 kcal/mol; four compounds (10772603, 101088272, 154730753 and glycyrrhizin) showed the highest binding energy, and good stability during MD simulation. The glycyrrhizin compound exhibited favorable docking energy (-7.9 kcal/mol), and it was the most stable complex during MD simulation. The predicted binding free energy of the glycyrrhizin complex was -57 ± 8 kcal/mol. These findings suggest that this molecule, after more validation, could become a good candidate for developing and manufacturing an anti-SARS-CoV-2 medication.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Synthesis, Antiviral, and Antibacterial Activity of the Glycyrrhizic Acid and Glycyrrhetinic Acid Derivatives

Glycyrrhizic acid and its primary metabolite glycyrrhetinic acid, are the main active ingredients in the licorice roots (glycyrrhiza species), which are widely used in several countries of the world, especially in east asian countries (China, Japan). These ingredients and their derivatives play an important role in treating many diseases, especially infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and hepatic infections. This review aims to summarize the different ways of synthesising the amide derivatives of glycyrrhizic acid and the main ways to synthesize the glycyrrhitinic acid derivatives. Also, to determine the main biological and pharmacological activity for these compounds from the previous studies to provide essential data to researchers for future studies.

Research Progress on the Antiviral Activity of Glycyrrhizin and its Derivatives in Liquorice

Liquorice is a traditional medicine. Triterpenoids such as glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid are the main active constituents of liquorice. Studies have revealed that these compounds exert inhibitory effects on several viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The main mechanisms of action of these compounds include inhibition of virus replication, direct inactivation of viruses, inhibition of inflammation mediated by HMGB1/TLR4, inhibition of β-chemokines, reduction in the binding of HMGB1 to DNA to weaken the activity of viruses, and inhibition of reactive oxygen species formation. We herein review the research progress on the antiviral effects of glycyrrhizin and its derivatives. In addition, we emphasise the significance of exploring unknown antiviral mechanisms, structural modifications, and drug combinations in future studies.

Using glycyrrhizic acid to target sumoylation processes during Epstein-Barr virus latency

Cellular sumoylation processes are proposed targets for anti-viral and anti-cancer therapies. We reported that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) dysregulates cellular sumoylation processes, contributing to its oncogenic potential in EBV-associated malignancies. Ginkgolic acid and anacardic acid, known inhibitors of sumoylation, inhibit LMP1-induced protein sumoylation; however, both drugs have adverse effects in hosts. Here we test the effects of glycyrrhizic acid, a medicinal botanical extract with anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-viral properties, on cellular sumoylation processes. While glycyrrhizic acid is known to inhibit EBV penetration, its affect on cellular sumoylation processes remains to be documented. We hypothesized that glycyrrhizic acid inhibits cellular sumoylation processes and may be a viable treatment for Epstein-Barr virus-associated malignancies. Results showed that glycyrrhizic acid inhibited sumoylation processes (without affecting ubiquitination processes), limited cell growth, and induced apoptosis in multiple cell lines. Similar to ginkgolic acid; glycyrrhizic acid targeted the first step of the sumoylation process and resulted in low levels of spontaneous EBV reactivation. Glycyrrhizic acid did not affect induced reactivation of the virus, but the presence of the extract did reduce the ability of the produced virus to infect additional cells. Therefore, we propose that glycyrrhizic acid may be a potential therapeutic drug to augment the treatment of EBV-associated lymphoid malignancies.

Formulation and evaluation of novel glycyrrhizic acid micelles for transdermal delivery of podophyllotoxin

CONTEXT

As the first-line agent for genital warts, podophyllotoxin (POD) could induce extensively skin burning, itching, and erythema. Meanwhile, as a common anti-inflammatory agent, glycyrrhizic acid (GA), also has amphipathic and solubilizing properties, indicating that it might be a promising drug carrier.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to formulate and characterize the POD-loaded GA micelles preparation and to evaluate its drug release characteristics and anti-inflammatory properties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The novel micelles preparation was prepared by ultrasonic dispersion method and characterized using different scanning calorimetries, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopies. Subsequently, its encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug-loading content (LC), in vitro skin permeation, in vivo drug retention, and distribution of POD were detected. The anti-inflammatory effect of the preparation was reflected by HE staining and immunohistochemistry in the rat skin.

RESULTS

The POD-loaded GA micelles formed spherical shapes (approximately 10 nm) with an EE of 78.53 ± 2.17% and a LC of 7.293 ± 0.42%. Meaningfully, unlike the extensive distribution of the POD tincture throughout the skin tissue, POD released from the POD-loaded GA micelles mainly located in the epidermis and could maintain steady skin retention for 12 h. Moreover, the POD-loaded GA micelles induced less leukocyte infiltration and inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) expression when compared with the POD tincture.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that the POD-loaded GA micelles could achieve a higher POD distribution in the epidermal layer as well as a lighter skin inflammation. This new POD delivery system might be a potential and promising candidate for genital warts and deserved further researches.

Virus proteins similar to human proteins as possible disturbance on human pathways

Cancer is not rare anywhere in the world now, and the global burden of cancer continues to increase largely every year. Previous research on infections and cancers reported that, about 17.8 % of the cancers worldwide, which are over 1.9 million cases of cancer, are related to viral infections. At least six oncoviruses, cancer-causing viruses, have been known so far, which include hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV or HHV-4), human papillomavirus, human T lymphotropic virus type 1, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV or HHV-8), but the pathogenic mechanism is far from being completely understood. In this study, assuming that finding human proteins significantly similar to viral oncoproteins leads to a categorization of the cancer-related pathways that are currently not clearly known, we analyzed different types of virus-caused cancers based on their similarity in order to clarify the unknown cancer mechanisms. As a result, we obtained several potential tumor pathways that may be significant and essential in oncogenic cancer process, which will be helpful for further study on cancer mechanisms and the development of new drug targets.