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Qi H, Ma QH, Feng W, Chen SM, Wu CS, Wang Y, Wang TX, Hou YL, Jia ZH. Glycyrrhetinic acid blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection by activating the cGAS-STING signalling pathway. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38922702 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) played an important role in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scientific basis and its active ingredients are still weakly studied. This study aims to decipher the underlying anti-SARS-CoV-2 mechanisms of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH GA's anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect was verified both in vitro and in vivo. Homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assays, biolayer interferometry technology, and molecular docking were employed to examine interactions of GA with human stimulator of interferon genes (hSTING). Immunofluorescence staining, western blot, and RT-qPCR were used to investigate nuclear translocation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and levels of STING target genes. Pharmacokinetics of GA was studied in mice. KEY RESULTS GA could directly bind to Ser162 and Tyr240 residues of hSTING, thus up-regulating downstream targets and activation of the STING signalling pathway. Such activation is crucial for limiting the replication of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in Calu-3 cells and protecting against lung injury induced by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection in K18-ACE2 transgenic mice. Immunofluorescence staining and western blot indicated that GA increased levels of phosphorylated STING, phosphorylated TANK-binding kinase-1, and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS). Importantly, GA increased nuclear translocation of IRF3. Pharmacokinetic analysis of GA in mice indicated it can be absorbed into circulation and detected in the lung at a stable level. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Activation of the cGAS-STING pathway through the GA-STING-IRF3 axis is essential for the antiviral activity of GA in mice, providing new insights into the potential translation of GA for treating SARS-CoV-2 in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Qi
- Hebei Academy of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- State Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory, Shijiazhuang, China
- New Drug Evaluation Center, Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Qin-Hai Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Feng
- Hebei Academy of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- State Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Si-Mian Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Cai-Sheng Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- Hebei Academy of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- State Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Tong-Xing Wang
- Hebei Academy of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- State Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yun-Long Hou
- Hebei Academy of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- State Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory, Shijiazhuang, China
- New Drug Evaluation Center, Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Zhen-Hua Jia
- Hebei Academy of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- State Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory, Shijiazhuang, China
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Ng CYJ, Bun HH, Zhao Y, Zhong LLD. TCM "medicine and food homology" in the management of post-COVID disorders. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1234307. [PMID: 37720220 PMCID: PMC10500073 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1234307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency of global concern on May 5, 2023. Post-COVID disorders are, however, becoming more common. Hence, there lies a growing need to develop safe and effective treatment measures to manage post-COVID disorders. Investigating the use of TCM medicinal foods in the long-term therapy of post-COVID illnesses may be beneficial given contemporary research's emphasis on the development of medicinal foods. Scope and approach The use of medicinal foods for the long-term treatment of post-COVID disorders is highlighted in this review. Following a discussion of the history of the TCM "Medicine and Food Homology" theory, the pathophysiological effects of post-COVID disorders will be briefly reviewed. An analysis of TCM medicinal foods and their functions in treating post-COVID disorders will then be provided before offering some insight into potential directions for future research and application. Key findings and discussion TCM medicinal foods can manage different aspects of post-COVID disorders. The use of medicinal foods in the long-term management of post-COVID illnesses may be a safe and efficient therapy choice because they are typically milder in nature than chronic drug use. These findings may also be applied in the long-term post-disease treatment of similar respiratory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chester Yan Jie Ng
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hung Hung Bun
- The University of Hong Kong (HKU) School of Professional and Continuing Education, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Linda L. D. Zhong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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3
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Zhurinov MZ, Miftakhova AF, Keyer V, Shulgau ZT, Solodova EV, Kalykberdiyev MK, Abilmagzhanov AZ, Talgatov ET, Ait S, Shustov AV. Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Extracts and Other Therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 in Central Eurasia: Available but Overlooked. Molecules 2023; 28:6142. [PMID: 37630394 PMCID: PMC10458004 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28166142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In Central Eurasia, the availability of drugs that are inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and have proven clinical efficacy is still limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of drugs that were available in Kazakhstan during the acute phase of the epidemic against SARS-CoV-2. Antiviral activity is reported for Favipiravir, Tilorone, and Cridanimod, which are registered drugs used for the treatment of respiratory viral infections in Kazakhstan. A licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) extract was also incorporated into this study because it offered an opportunity to develop plant-derived antivirals. The Favipiravir drug, which had been advertised in local markets as an anti-COVID cure, showed no activity against SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures. On the contrary, Cridanimod showed impressive high activity (median inhibitory concentration 66 μg/mL) against SARS-CoV-2, justifying further studies of Cridanimod in clinical trials. Tilorone, despite being in the same pharmacological group as Cridanimod, stimulated SARS-CoV-2 replication in cultures. The licorice extract inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in cultures, with a high median effective concentration of 16.86 mg/mL. Conclusions: The synthetic, low-molecular-weight compound Cridanimod suppresses SARS-CoV-2 replication at notably low concentrations, and this drug is not toxic to cells at therapeutic concentrations. In contrast to its role as an inducer of interferons, Cridanimod is active in cells that have a genetic defect in interferon production, suggesting a different mechanism of action. Cridanimod is an attractive drug for inclusion in clinical trials against SARS-CoV-2 and, presumably, other coronaviruses. The extract from licorice shows low activity against SARS-CoV-2. At the same time, high doses of 2 g/kg of this plant extract show little or no acute toxicity in animal studies; for this reason, licorice products can still be considered for further development as a safe, orally administered adjunctive therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Zh. Zhurinov
- “D.V. Sokolskiy Institute of Fuel, Catalysis and Electrochemistry” JSC, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
| | - Alfira F. Miftakhova
- “D.V. Sokolskiy Institute of Fuel, Catalysis and Electrochemistry” JSC, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Viktoriya Keyer
- Laboratory for Genetic Engineering, RSE “National Center for Biotechnology”, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Zarina T. Shulgau
- Laboratory for Genetic Engineering, RSE “National Center for Biotechnology”, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Elena V. Solodova
- “D.V. Sokolskiy Institute of Fuel, Catalysis and Electrochemistry” JSC, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, International Engineering Technological University, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Maxat K. Kalykberdiyev
- “D.V. Sokolskiy Institute of Fuel, Catalysis and Electrochemistry” JSC, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
| | - Arlan Z. Abilmagzhanov
- “D.V. Sokolskiy Institute of Fuel, Catalysis and Electrochemistry” JSC, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
| | - Eldar T. Talgatov
- “D.V. Sokolskiy Institute of Fuel, Catalysis and Electrochemistry” JSC, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
| | - Sauyk Ait
- “D.V. Sokolskiy Institute of Fuel, Catalysis and Electrochemistry” JSC, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
| | - Alexandr V. Shustov
- Laboratory for Genetic Engineering, RSE “National Center for Biotechnology”, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
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Ye L, Fan S, Zhao P, Wu C, Liu M, Hu S, Wang P, Wang H, Bi H. Potential herb‒drug interactions between anti-COVID-19 drugs and traditional Chinese medicine. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023:S2211-3835(23)00203-4. [PMID: 37360014 PMCID: PMC10239737 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread worldwide. Effective treatments against COVID-19 remain urgently in need although vaccination significantly reduces the incidence, hospitalization, and mortality. At present, antiviral drugs including Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (PaxlovidTM), Remdesivir, and Molnupiravir have been authorized to treat COVID-19 and become more globally available. On the other hand, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for the treatment of epidemic diseases for a long history. Currently, various TCM formulae against COVID-19 such as Qingfei Paidu decoction, Xuanfei Baidu granule, Huashi Baidu granule, Jinhua Qinggan granule, Lianhua Qingwen capsule, and Xuebijing injection have been widely used in clinical practice in China, which may cause potential herb-drug interactions (HDIs) in patients under treatment with antiviral drugs and affect the efficacy and safety of medicines. However, information on potential HDIs between the above anti-COVID-19 drugs and TCM formulae is lacking, and thus this work seeks to summarize and highlight potential HDIs between antiviral drugs and TCM formulae against COVID-19, and especially pharmacokinetic HDIs mediated by metabolizing enzymes and/or transporters. These well-characterized HDIs could provide useful information on clinical concomitant medicine use to maximize clinical outcomes and minimize adverse and toxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Ye
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Shicheng Fan
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Pengfei Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Sun Yat-sen University,Guangzhou 510006,China
| | - Chenghua Wu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Menghua Liu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Shuang Hu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Peng Wang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Hongyu Wang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
| | - Huichang Bi
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,China
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Wang X, Liu Y, Kang N, Xu G. Wide identification of chemical constituents in fermented licorice and explore its efficacy of anti-neurodegeneration by combining quasi-targeted metabolomics and in-depth bioinformatics. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1156037. [PMID: 37274217 PMCID: PMC10234426 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1156037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Licorice (Gan-Cao in Chinese) is one of the most famous herbal medicines around the world. The fermentation of probiotics and herbs can change the chemical constituents and significantly improve the efficacy. However, it is still unknown whether licorice fermented with probiotics would produce beneficial therapeutic effects. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the chemical constituents in fermented licorice via quasi-targeted metabolomics, predict the potential efficacy of fermentation products via diverse bioinformatic methods, and further verify the efficacy of fermentation products through in vitro and in vivo experiments. As a result, 1,435 compounds were identified totally. Among them, 424 natural medicinal products were classified with potentially important bioactivities, including 11 anthocyanins, 10 chalcones and dihydrochalcones, 25 flavanones, 45 flavones and flavonols, 117 flavonoids, 34 isoflavonoids, 21 phenols and its derivatives, 20 phenylpropanoids and polyketides, 96 terpenoids and 25 coumarins and derivatives. Interestingly, bioinformatic prediction showed that the targets of some important compounds were related to neurodegeneration, oxidoreductase activity and response to stress. In vitro and in vivo tests further verified that fermented licorice had excellent effects of DPPH clearance, anti-oxidation, anti-neurodegeneration, and anti-stress. Thus, this study would provide a reference method for related research and the development of fermented licorice-related products.
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6
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Fu Y, Fang Y, Gong S, Xue T, Wang P, She L, Huang J. Deep learning-based network pharmacology for exploring the mechanism of licorice for the treatment of COVID-19. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5844. [PMID: 37037848 PMCID: PMC10086012 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31380-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Licorice, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used for the treatment of COVID-19, but all active compounds and corresponding targets are still not clear. Therefore, this study proposed a deep learning-based network pharmacology approach to identify more potential active compounds and targets of licorice. 4 compounds (quercetin, naringenin, liquiritigenin, and licoisoflavanone), 2 targets (SYK and JAK2) and the relevant pathways (P53, cAMP, and NF-kB) were predicted, which were confirmed by previous studies to be associated with SARS-CoV-2-infection. In addition, 2 new active compounds (glabrone and vestitol) and 2 new targets (PTEN and MAP3K8) were further validated by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations (simultaneous molecular dynamics), as well as the results showed that these active compounds bound well to COVID-19 related targets, including the main protease (Mpro), the spike protein (S-protein) and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Overall, in this study, glabrone and vestitol from licorice were found to inhibit viral replication by inhibiting the activation of Mpro, S-protein and ACE2; related compounds in licorice may reduce the inflammatory response and inhibit apoptosis by acting on PTEN and MAP3K8. Therefore, licorice has been proposed as an effective candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 through PTEN, MAP3K8, Mpro, S-protein and ACE2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Fu
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Yangyue Fang
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Shuai Gong
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Tao Xue
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Li She
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Jianping Huang
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
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Oladipo A, Ejeromedoghene O, Adebayo A, Ogunyemi O, Egejuru G. A mini review on the prospects of Fagara zanthoxyloides extract based composites: a remedy for COVID-19 and associated replica? PHYSICAL SCIENCES REVIEWS 2023. [DOI: 10.1515/psr-2022-0256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Studies are still being conducted to find a sustainable and long-lasting solution to the lethal consequences of the feared virus characterized as coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and its accompanying pathogenic replication, which pose a serious threat to human survival in the wake of its broad distribution. Since its emergence, researchers have investigated synthetic approaches in search of a dependable vaccine or treatment and curtail the spread of the virus and also enhance the health of a patient who has been affected. Unfortunately, the infection is yet to be entirely eradicated in many parts of the world. Despite the introduction of synthetic pharmaceuticals like remdesivir and derivatives of chloroquine, plant extracts may be an alternative reliable strategy that could successfully combat the operation of the virus. Herein, we investigated the prospects of fagara zanthoxyloides lam. (rutaceae) (syn. zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides), a well-known medicinal tree whose extracts have demonstrated success in treating many microbiological and viral-related infections. The distinctive plant extracts contain several bioactive phytochemicals with promising biological activity with minimal or no side effects and are being researched for a variety of applications, particularly in the pharmaceutical and medicinal industries. Consequently, in this review, we examined the crude extracts from the Fagara species and suggested that careful consideration should be given to its independent use or combination with other bioactive molecules, such as biopolymers and nano-metallic composites, to combat the terrifying Covid-19 virus and its associates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abiodun Oladipo
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China , College of Forestry , Nanjing Forestry University , 210037 Nanjing , Jiangsu , P. R. China
| | - Onome Ejeromedoghene
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Southeast University , Jiangning District , Nanjing , Jiangsu Province , 211189 , P. R. China
| | - Ademola Adebayo
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences , Faculty of Forestry , University of British Columbia , V6T1Z4 B.C , Vancouver , Canada
| | - Olakunle Ogunyemi
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management , Federal University of Agriculture , PMB 2240 Abeokuta , Ogun State , Nigeria
| | - George Egejuru
- School of Public Health , Southeast University , Jiangning District , Nanjing , Jiangsu Province , 211189 , P. R. China
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8
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Bauer B. Traditional approach in prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in Republic of North Macedonia. MAKEDONSKO FARMACEVTSKI BILTEN 2022. [DOI: 10.33320/maced.pharm.bull.2022.68.04.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Biljana Bauer
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ss Cyril and Methodius, Mother Theresa 47, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
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Liu X, Tian X, Ma Z, Chen J, Huang Q, Gao P, Zhang C. Efficacy and safety of glycyrrhizic acid preparation treating comorbid liver injury in COVID-19: A systematic review. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1003697. [PMID: 36408213 PMCID: PMC9669476 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1003697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: No specific drug for COVID-19 has been found, and many studies have found that different degrees of liver injury often occurred after infection with COVID-19. Glycyrrhizic acid preparation (GAP) has been frequently used clinically, often combined with conventional treatments such as antiviral therapy, to improve the prognosis of COVID-19 and patients' liver function. Aims: To critically review and analyze clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of GAP in the treatment of COVID-19 alone and COVID-19 with comorbid liver injury. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed following a sensitive searching strategy that examines all articles published in "WHO COVID-19 Research Database," "Cochrane Library," "VIP," "CNKI," "Wanfang," and "CBM" from 2020 to July 2022. Articles were evaluated by peer reviewers and used Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools to complete the assessment of the risk of bias. Results: Ten clinical studies were finally included, involving 598 patients with COVID-19, of whom 189 were confirmed to be with comorbid liver injury. The main GAPs used are diammonium glycyrrhizinate and magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate, which have shown efficacy in improving liver function, inhibiting inflammation, and enhancing immunity. We are still seeking more related research. Conclusion: Glycyrrhizic acid preparations (mainly diammonium glycyrrhizinate and magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate) have a considerable clinical effect on improving liver function in patients with COVID-19 alone or with comorbid liver injury. Further studies on the use of GAP in the treatment of COVID-19 with comorbid liver injury and its mechanism are still needed. Systematic Review Registration: [www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero], identifier [CRD42021234647].
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xia Tian
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhipeng Ma
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiali Chen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingsong Huang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Peiyang Gao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuantao Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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10
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Cao JF, Gong Y, Wu M, Yang X, Xiong L, Chen S, Xiao Z, Li Y, Zhang L, Zan W, Zhang X. Exploring the mechanism of action of licorice in the treatment of COVID-19 through bioinformatics analysis and molecular dynamics simulation. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1003310. [PMID: 36120307 PMCID: PMC9481297 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1003310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The rapid worldwide spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become not only a global challenge, but also a lack of effective clinical treatments. Studies have shown that licorice can significantly improve clinical symptoms such as fever, dry cough and shortness of breath in COVID-19 patients with no significant adverse effects. However, there is still a lack of in-depth analysis of the specific active ingredients of licorice in the treatment of COVID-19 and its mechanism of action. Therefore, we used molecular docking and molecular dynamics to explore the mechanism of action of licorice in the treatment of COVID-19.Methods: We used bioinformatics to screen active pharmaceutical ingredients and potential targets, the disease-core gene target-drug network was established and molecular docking was used for verification. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to verify that active ingredients were stably combined with protein targets. The supercomputer platform was used to measure and analyze stability of protein targets at the residue level, solvent accessible surface area, number of hydrogen bonds, radius of gyration and binding free energy.Results: Licorice had 255 gene targets, COVID-19 had 4,628 gene targets, the intersection gene targets were 101. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that licorice played an important role mainly through the signaling pathways of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress. Molecular docking showed that Glycyrol, Phaseol and Glyasperin F in licorice may playe a role in treating COVID-19 by acting on STAT3, IL2RA, MMP1, and CXCL8. Molecular dynamics were used to demonstrate and analyze the binding stability of active ingredients to protein targets.Conclusion: This study found that Phaseol in licorice may reduce inflammatory cell activation and inflammatory response by inhibiting the activation of CXCL8 and IL2RA; Glycyrol may regulate cell proliferation and survival by acting on STAT3. Glyasperin F may regulate cell growth by inhibiting the activation of MMP1, thus reducing tissue damage and cell death caused by excessive inflammatory response and promoting the growth of new tissues. Therefore, licorice is proposed as an effective candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 through STAT3, IL2RA, MMP1, and CXCL8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Feng Cao
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu Medical College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunli Gong
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Mei Wu
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Xingyu Yang
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Xiong
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengyan Chen
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Zixuan Xiao
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Li
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Lixin Zhang
- Yunnan Academy of Forestry Sciences, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Lixin Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-135-2919-4157; Wang Zan, , orcid.org/0086-186-2812-0209; Xiao Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-130-8661-6376
| | - Wang Zan
- Chengdu Medical College of Pharmacy, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Lixin Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-135-2919-4157; Wang Zan, , orcid.org/0086-186-2812-0209; Xiao Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-130-8661-6376
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Chengdu Medical College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Lixin Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-135-2919-4157; Wang Zan, , orcid.org/0086-186-2812-0209; Xiao Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-130-8661-6376
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Atheroprotective Effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27154697. [PMID: 35897875 PMCID: PMC9332620 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases associated with atherosclerosis are the major cause of death in developed countries. Early prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis are considered to be an important aspect of the therapy of cardiovascular disease. Preparations based on natural products affect the main pathogenetic steps of atherogenesis, and so represent a perspective for the long-term prevention of atherosclerosis development. Numerous experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated the multiple beneficial effects of licorice and its bioactive compounds—anti-inflammatory, anti-cytokine, antioxidant, anti-atherogenic, and anti-platelet action—which allow us to consider licorice as a promising atheroprotective agent. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge on the licorice anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of action based on the results of experimental studies, including the results of the in vitro study demonstrating licorice effect on the ability of blood serum to reduce intracellular cholesterol accumulation in cultured macrophages, and presented the results of clinical studies confirming the ameliorating activity of licorice in regard to traditional cardiovascular risk factors as well as the direct anti-atherosclerotic effect of licorice.
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Kadirvel V, Mithulesh TV, Gururaj PN, Kulathooran R. Formulation and Evaluation of Medicated Lozenges using Traditional Herbs to Treat Sore Throat Infection. J FOOD PROCESS PRES 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jfpp.16903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vijayasri Kadirvel
- Department of Food Technology Rajalakshmi Engineering College 602105 Chennai TN India
| | - T. V. Mithulesh
- Department of Food Technology Rajalakshmi Engineering College 602105 Chennai TN India
| | - P. N. Gururaj
- Department of Food Technology Rajalakshmi Engineering College 602105 Chennai TN India
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