title: Antiviral activity of glycyrrhizin against varicella-zoster virus in vitro.
abstract: One of the plant extracts, glycyrrhizin (GL) was investigated for its antiviral action on varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in vitro. When human embryonic fibroblast (HEF) cells were treated with GL after inoculation of virus (post-treatment), the average 50%-inhibitory dose (ID50) for five VZV strains was 0.71 mM, and the selectivity index (ratio of ID50 for host-cell DNA synthesis to ID50 for VZV replication) was 30. GL was also effective against VZV replication when HEF cells were treated 24 h before the inoculation (pretreatment). Furthermore, at a concentration of 2.4 mM GL inactivated more than 99% of virus particles within 30 min at 37 degrees C. In combination with other anti-herpes drugs (acyclovir, adenine arabinoside, bromovinyldeoxyuridine, and phosphonoformate) or human native beta-interferon, GL had an additive or slightly synergistic effect on VZV replication. The mechanism of anti-VZV action is still unclear. We postulate that GL inhibits the penetration, uncoating or release of virus particles.
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid