The selectivity index from the study by Cinatl et al was calculated by testing Vero cells, and as learned from the misleading results of hydroxychloroquine working well for treating SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells but not human cells, the possibility that glycyrrhizin works differently in Vero cells must be kept in mind. It is not known what the effects of glycyrrhizin are on SARS-CoV-2 replication, but because of the genetic similarity between SARS-CoV-2 and  SARS-CoV, glycyrrhizin could potentially be effective in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 replication.


Limitations of applying Glycyrrhizin's effect on SARS-CoV to SARS-CoV-2

Glycyrrhizin leads to an increase in production of nitrous oxide in macrophages. Nitrous oxide is a compound that has demonstrated to be an effective inhibitor of viral replication. 

Santa Clara University

In a clinical trial by Cinatl et al., glycyrrhizin was tested on patients in a hospital in Germany who were infected with SARS-CoV. Glycyrrhizin was he most effective compound tested that inhibited SARS-CoV replication. Glycyrrhizin had a selectivity index of 67. It inhibited replication, adsorption and penetration of the virus.

Glycyrrhizin’s effect on vero cells that were  infected with SARS-CoV

Yang, F., Zhang, Y., Tariq, A., Jiang, X., Ahmed, Z., Zhihao, Z., Idrees, M., Azizullah, A., Adnan, M., & Bussmann, R. W. (2020). Food as medicine: A possible preventive measure against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Phytotherapy research : PTR, 10.1002/ptr.6770. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6770

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