Comparison of the effects of glycyrrhiza and glycyrrhiza acid on the anti-respiratory syncytial virus in vitro

Objective To study the effects of glycyrrhiza and glycyrrhiza acid on the anti-respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) in vitro.Methods By using CPEI assay,the difference of anti-RSV effect between glycyrrhiza and glycyrrhiza acid was compared while Ribavirin was used as a positive control.Results The median toxic concentration(TC_(50)) of glycyrrhiza was 5.1mg/ml,and the median effective concentration(EC_(50)) against RSV in Hela cells was 0.215mg/ml,and therapeutic index(TI=TC_(50)/EC_(50)) was 23.72.The TC_(50) of glycyrrhiza acid was 0.47mg/ml,no effection against RSV in Hela cells.Conclusion The study suggests that the glycyrrhiza has an obviously inhibited effects on RSV in Hela cell culture,while the glycyrrhiza acid has not,so there maybe other active component existed in glycyrrhiza.