Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Extracts and Other Therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 in Central Eurasia: Available but Overlooked
Zhurinov M.Z. Miftakhova A.F. Keyer V. Shulgau Z.T. Solodova E.V. Kalykberdiyev M.K. Abilmagzhanov A.Z. Talgatov E.T. Ait S. Shustov A.V.
August 2023Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Molecules
2023#28Issue 16
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.
antivirals , COVID-19 , Cridanimod , Favipiravir , Glycyrrhiza glabra , Glycyrrhizin , influenza virus , licorice , phytochemicals , SARS-CoV-2 virus , Tilorone
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
“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
Laboratory for Genetic Engineering, RSE “National Center for Biotechnology”, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Biochemical Engineering, International Engineering Technological University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
“D.V. Sokolskiy Institute of Fuel
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
Laboratory for Genetic Engineering
Department of Biochemical Engineering
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026