As the world is looking for an effective medicine against SARS-CoV-2, an herb that is widely used in Ayurveda offers an exciting edge.
Scientists from the National Brain Research Center, Manesar, have found that an ingredient in Mulethi (Yashthimadhu in Sanskrit) has the potential to emerge as a drug candidate against SARS-CoV-2 as it reduces the severity of the disease and reduces viral replication.
More than 15 months after the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, scientists are still discovering a medicine to counter the catastrophic virus, although several vaccines have been rolled out.
The doctors currently treat patients with a handful of medicines for reuse with varying degrees of effectiveness.
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With the support of the Department of Biotechnology, the NBRC team began searching for a new therapy against Covid-19 in the middle of the exclusion period last year.
When the search for glycyrrhizin was reduced due to its amazing anti-inflammatory properties, the researchers performed a series of experiments to test its potential against SARS-CoV-2.
In the laboratory, the scientists expressed specific viral proteins in human lung epithelial cells. Viral proteins have caused inflammation in these cells, but treatment with glycyrrhizin clears the inflammation in such cells. The untreated cells succumbed to inflammation.
“By suppressing cytokine storm (a severe immune response caused by severe cases of Covid-19), glycirrhizin can reduce the severity of the infection,” said Ellora Sen, senior scientist at NBRC, who led the team. DH.
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Subsequently, when Sen, along with her co-researchers Pruthvi Gowda, Shruti Patrick, Shanker Datt, Rajesh Joshi and Kumar Kumawat further analyzed the molecule, they found that glycyrrhizin, in addition to inhibiting the cytokine storm, also reduced viral replication by 90%.
While Mulethi (Yashtimadhu) is widely prescribed for lung ailments, chronic fever and inflammation of the airways in Ayurveda, glycyrrhizin is used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C.
“Given its safety profile and tolerability, it may be a viable therapeutic option in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection,” she said. The team is now looking for partners to continue the research in the preclinical stage.
The study was published in Sitokien, the official journal of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society.