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Sun Z, He G, Huang N, Thilakavathy K, Lim JCW, Kumar SS, Xiong C. Glycyrrhizic Acid: A Natural Plant Ingredient as a Drug Candidate to Treat COVID-19. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:707205. [PMID: 34305613 PMCID: PMC8298820 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.707205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The total number of cumulative cases and deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is still increasing worldwide. Although many countries have actively implemented vaccination strategies to curb the epidemic, there is no specific efficient therapeutic drug for this virus to effectively reduce deaths. Therefore, the underappreciated macromolecular compounds have become the spotlight of research. Furthermore, the medicinal compounds in plants that provide myriad possibilities to treat human diseases have become of utmost importance. Experience indicates that Traditional Chinese medicine effectively treats SARS and has been used for treating patients with COVID-19 in China. As one of the world's oldest herbal remedies, licorice is used for treating patients with all stages of COVID-19. Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), the main active compound in licorice, has been proven effective in killing the SARS virus. Meanwhile, as a natural plant molecule, GA can also directly target important protein structures of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we summarized the immune synergy of GA and its potential role in treating COVID-19 complications. Besides, we reviewed its anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system and its positive effects in cooperation with various drugs to fight against COVID-19 and its comorbidities. The purpose of this review is to elucidate and suggest that GA can be used as a potential drug during COVID-19 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Sun
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Guozhong He
- School of Public Health, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Ninghao Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Karuppiah Thilakavathy
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Jonathan Chee Woei Lim
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - S. Suresh Kumar
- Centre for Materials Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Chenglong Xiong
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Tom JK, Albin TJ, Manna S, Moser BA, Steinhardt RC, Esser-Kahn AP. Applications of Immunomodulatory Immune Synergies to Adjuvant Discovery and Vaccine Development. Trends Biotechnol 2019; 37:373-88. [PMID: 30470547 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Pathogens comprise a diverse set of immunostimulatory molecules that activate the innate immune system during infection. The immune system recognizes distinct combinations of pathogenic molecules leading to multiple immune activation events that cooperate to produce enhanced immune responses, known as 'immune synergies'. Effective immune synergies are essential for the clearance of pathogens, thus inspiring novel adjuvant design to improve vaccines. We highlight current vaccine adjuvants and the importance of immune synergies to adjuvant and vaccine design. The focus is on new technologies used to study and apply immune synergies to adjuvant and vaccine development. Finally, we discuss how recent findings can be applied to the future design and characterization of synergistic adjuvants and vaccines.
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