The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a huge public health emergency.
Although several clinical trials have been conducted to identify effective drugs for the treatment of COVID-19, many promising drugs such as hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, and lopinavir were shown to have little effect on hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
A popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch (licorice, Gan-Cao) has demonstrated antiviral activity against H1N1 influenza and other SARS-CoV viruses, but information on its use against SARS-CoV-2 is scarce.
Yang Yi, Junhua Li, Xinyuan Lai, et. Al. 2021. Natural triterpenoids from licorice potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. Journal of Advanced Research. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2021.11.012 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123221002307?via%3Dihub