Ng Swee Li, Khaw Kooi-Yeong, Ong Yong Sze, Goh Hui Poh, Kifli Nurolaini, Teh Siew Phooi, Ming Long Chiau, Kotra Vijay, Goh Bey Hing
Biofunctional Molecul Exploratory Research Group (BMEX), School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.
Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam.
J Evid Based Integr Med. 2021 Jan-Dec;26:2515690X21996662. doi: 10.1177/2515690X21996662.
The management of the global pandemic outbreak due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been challenging with no exact dedicated treatment nor established vaccines at the beginning of the pandemic. Nonetheless, the situation seems to be better controlled with the recent COVID-19 vaccines roll-out globally as active immunisation to prevent COVID-19. The extensive usage and trials done in recent outbreak in China has shown the effectiveness of traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) in improving the wellbeing of COVID-19 patients. Therefore, COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment guidelines has listed a number of recommended concoctions meant for COVID-19 patients. Licorice, more commonly known as Gancao in Chinese Pinyin, is known as one of the most frequently used ingredients in TCM prescriptions for treatment of epidemic diseases. Interestingly, it is deemed as food ingredient as well, where it is normally used in Western cuisines' desserts and sweets. The surprising fact that licorice appeared in the top 10 main ingredients used in TCM prescriptions in COVID-19 has drawn great attention from researchers in revealing its biological potential in overcoming this disease. To date, there are no comprehensive review on licorice and its benefits when used in COVID-19. Thus, in this current review, the possible benefits, mechanism of actions, safety and limitations of licorice were explored in hope to provide a quick reference guide for its preclinical and clinical experimental set-up in this very critical moment of pandemic.
由于冠状病毒病（COVID-19）引发的全球大流行疫情管理颇具挑战性，在疫情初期既没有确切的专门治疗方法，也没有已获批的疫苗。尽管如此，随着近期全球范围内推出COVID-19疫苗作为预防COVID-19的主动免疫手段，情况似乎得到了更好的控制。在中国近期疫情爆发期间对中医药进行的广泛应用和试验表明，中药在改善COVID-19患者健康状况方面具有有效性。因此，《COVID-19防治指南》列出了一些针对COVID-19患者的推荐方剂。甘草，在汉语拼音中更常用的名称是“Gancao”，是治疗传染病的中药方剂中最常用的成分之一。有趣的是，它也被视为一种食品成分，常用于西餐的甜点和糖果中。甘草出现在COVID-19中药方剂十大主要成分之列这一惊人事实，引起了研究人员对揭示其克服这种疾病的生物学潜力的极大关注。迄今为止，尚未有关于甘草及其在COVID-19中应用益处的全面综述。因此，在本综述中，探讨了甘草的可能益处、作用机制、安全性和局限性，以期在当前这一疫情的关键时刻为其临床前和临床实验设置提供快速参考指南。
