Glycyrrhizin for topical use and prophylaxis of COVID-19: an interesting pharmacological perspective

D. Passali, G. Ciprandi, V. Damiani, A.M. De Marco, F. Cianfrone, F.M. Passali

Article ID: 5533
Vol 35, Issue 1S2, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.23812/21-1supp2-4
Received: 11 March 2021; Accepted: 11 March 2021; Available online: 11 March 2021; Issue release: 11 March 2021

Abstract

COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS - CoV - 2 pathogen, is currently a pandemic. At the moment there is not an available vaccine, so, scientific community is looking for strategies and drugs to implement prevention and prophylaxis. Several compounds are examined for this purpose. Glycyrrhizin, an alkaloid extracted from licorice plant (glycyrriza glabra), is one of the most studied molecules, both for its peculiar biological functions and for its pharmacological effects. This brief review aims to highlight the characteristics of glycyrrhizin for topical use on the nasal and ocular surfaces. The anti-inflammatory activity, the ability to inhibit the accumulation of ROS, the antiviral property, but, above all, the ability to bind the ACE receptor and the SARS - CoV-2 protein S in the extracellular environment make Glycyrrhizzin for topical use a compound with a high prophylactic potential for SARS - CoV - 2 infection, also due to its low cost and the absence of significant side effects.


Keywords

COVID-19;SARS CoV-2;Glycyrrhizin;Prophylaxis


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