Abstract
Licorice extract (glycyrrhizin), a potent antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant remedy, is a potential therapeutic option for COVID-19. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of licorice in patients with moderate COVID-19. In this study, 60 patients with confirmed COVID-19 were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive licorice (at a dose of 760 mg three times a day for seven days) or control groups. The primary outcomes were SPO2, body temperature, and respiratory rate (RR) after the end of the intervention. The findings indicated that SPO2, body temperature, and RR had no significant difference between the groups at the end of the intervention. However, CRP and ALT improved in the licorice group toward the baseline. The number of patients with worse prognoses, LOS, mortality, and the incidence of adverse events were not different between the groups at the end of the study. Licorice had no beneficial effect on the clinical symptoms of COVID-19. Moreover, this intervention demonstrated a safe profile of adverse events. The confirmation of the results of this preparatory trial requires more detailed multiple-center trials with a larger sample size.
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The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article. Other data requests will be considered by the management group upon written request to the corresponding authors.
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Acknowledgements
The authors appreciably thank the trial patients and their families, whose help and participation made this study possible. They would also like to thank the assistance of Irandarouk Pharmaceutical Company for preparing the D-Reglis®tablets and Amin Chemical and Pharmaceutical Company for preparing the hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets. The Irandarouk Pharmaceutical Company and Amin Chemical and Pharmaceutical Company played no part in the design of the trial the intervention procedures, collection, evaluation, and analysis of data.
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This research was funded by the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences (no; 990061).
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AA, MF, and MF were responsible for conceptualization, methodology, and software. MF, HD, and SH performed data curation and writing––original draft preparation. PD, AK, and OS were involved in visualization and investigation. AA did supervision. SH were responsible for software and validation. MF was involved in writing––reviewing and editing.
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Ethical approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences (IR.HUMS.REC.1399.066). This study was also undertaken in accordance with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and the principles of the International Conference on Harmonization Good Clinical Practice.
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Ameri, A., Farashahinejad, M., Davoodian, P. et al. Efficacy and safety of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) in moderately ill patients with COVID-19: a randomized controlled trial. Inflammopharmacol 31, 3037–3045 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-023-01352-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-023-01352-4