title: Mechanism of action of glycyrrhizic acid in inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus replication in vitro.
abstract: We report here that glycyrrhizic acid (GL), a component of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza radix), is active against EBV replication in superinfected Raji cells in a dose-dependent fashion. The IC(50) values for viral inhibition and cell growth were 0.04 and 4.8mM, respectively. The selectivity index (ratio of IC(50) for cell growth to IC(50) for viral DNA synthesis) was 120. Time of addition experiments suggested that GL interferes with an early step of EBV replication cycle (possibly penetration). GL had no effect on viral adsorption, nor did it inactivate EBV particles. Thus, GL represents a new class of anti-EBV compounds with a mode of action different from that of the nucleoside analogs that inhibit viral DNA polymerase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, 701 Section 3, Chung Yang Road, Hualien 970, Taiwan ROC. jx18@mail.tcu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Jung Chung
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D015163:Superinfection / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase