African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (10), pp. 392-393, October 2003

Short Communication

Glycyrrhizin therapy for viral infections

Kei Numazaki

Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8543, Japan. Tel: (011) 611-2111 EXT.3413, Fax: (011) 611-0352, E-mail: numazaki@sapmed.ac.jp.

Accepted 26 September 2003

Glycyrrhizin (GL) was reported as the most active in inhibiting replication of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus. Therapeutic effect of GL for liver dysfunction associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompetent individuals was evaluated. Liver dysfunction in 4 cases improved and CMV disappeared from urinary samples after administration of GL intravenously by the age of 12 months. GL treatment also should be applied for the patients with SARS.

Key words: Glycyrrhizin, SARS, cytomegalovirus.