Dataset Information

Water extract of licorice had anti-viral activity against human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines.

ABSTRACT:

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Leguminosae) has been used in herbal medicine and food supplement worldwide for centuries. Licorice is a common ingredient of several prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine which have been proved to inhibit infection of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV). There are two preparations of licorice, Radix Glycyrrhizae and Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata. However, it is unknown whether licorice or which preparation of licorice is effective against HRSV, nor is its active constituent.

Aim of the study

We tested the hypothesis that Radix Glycyrrhizae can effectively decrease HRSV-induced plaque formation in respiratory mucosal cell lines. We also tried to find out the active constituent.

Materials and methods

Anti-HRSV activities of hot water extracts of preparations of licorice, glycyrrhizin and 18?-glycyrrhetinic acid (18?-GA), the active constituents of licorice, were examined by plaque reduction assay in both human upper (HEp-2) and low (A549) respiratory tract cell lines. Abilities of crude licorice to inhibit viral replication and to stimulate IFN-? were evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.

Results

Radix Glycyrrhizae and Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata dose-dependently inhibited HRSV-induced plaque formation in both HEp-2 and A549 cell lines (p<0.0001). The effect of Radix Glycyrrhizae was better than that of Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata on HEp-2 cells. However, there was no difference of their anti-HRSV effects on A549 cells. Besides, glycyrrhizin was ineffective at all. Nevertheless, 18?-GA showed a potent anti-HRSV activity. Radix Glycyrrhizae was more effective when given before viral inoculation (p<0.0001) which may be due to its inhibition of viral attachment on (p<0.0001) and penetration (p<0.0001) into the host cells. The anti-HRSV activity of Radix Glycyrrhizae was further confirmed by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. 300 ?g/ml Radix Glycyrrhizae markedly decreased the viral amounts within the cells and in the suspension. Radix Glycyrrhizae might further stimulate mucosal cells to secrete IFN-? to counteract viral infection.

Conclusions

Both Radix Glycyrrhizae and Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata are effective against HRSV infection on airway epithelial cells. Radix Glycyrrhizae inhibited HRSV mainly by preventing viral attachment, internalization, and by stimulating IFN secretion. 18?-GA may be one of its active constituents.

SUBMITTER: Feng Yeh C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7126896 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Water extract of licorice had anti-viral activity against human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines.

Feng Yeh Chia C Wang Kuo Chih KC Chiang Lien Chai LC Shieh Den En DE Yen Ming Hong MH San Chang Jung J

Journal of ethnopharmacology 20130430 2

<h4>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h4>Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Leguminosae) has been used in herbal medicine and food supplement worldwide for centuries. Licorice is a common ingredient of several prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine which have been proved to inhibit infection of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV). There are two preparations of licorice, Radix Glycyrrhizae and Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata. However, it is unknown whether licorice or which preparatio ...[more]

PMID: 23643542

Similar Datasets

Project description:Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects small foci of respiratory epithelial cells via infected droplets. Infection induces expression of type I and III interferons (IFNs) and proinflammatory cytokines, the balance of which may restrict viral replication and affect disease severity. We explored this balance by infecting two respiratory epithelial cell lines with low doses of recombinant RSV expressing green fluorescent protein (rgRSV). A549 cells were highly permissive, whereas BEAS-2B cells restricted infection to individual cells or small foci. After infection, A549 cells expressed higher levels of IFN-β-, IFN-λ-, and NF-κB-inducible proinflammatory cytokines. In contrast, BEAS-2B cells expressed higher levels of antiviral interferon-stimulated genes, pattern recognition receptors, and other signaling intermediaries constitutively and after infection. Transcriptome analysis revealed that constitutive expression of antiviral and proinflammatory genes predicted responses by each cell line. These two cell lines provide a model for elucidating critical mediators of local control of viral infection in respiratory epithelial cells.IMPORTANCE Airway epithelium is both the primary target of and the first defense against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Whether RSV replicates and spreads to adjacent epithelial cells depends on the quality of their innate immune responses. A549 and BEAS-2B are alveolar and bronchial epithelial cell lines, respectively, that are often used to study RSV infection. We show that A549 cells are permissive to RSV infection and express genes characteristic of a proinflammatory response. In contrast, BEAS-2B cells restrict infection and express genes characteristic of an antiviral response associated with expression of type I and III interferons. Transcriptome analysis of constitutive gene expression revealed patterns that may predict the response of each cell line to infection. This study suggests that restrictive and permissive cell lines may provide a model for identifying critical mediators of local control of infection and stresses the importance of the constitutive antiviral state for the response to viral challenge.

Dataset Information

Water extract of licorice had anti-viral activity against human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines.

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Aim of the study

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Water extract of licorice had anti-viral activity against human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets