Medicinal Plant Research 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 283-290 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 285 Generally, the therapeutic efficacy of Glycyrrhiza can be attributed to synergistic interactions among its constituents. Flavonoids and triterpenoids may exert mutual enhancement in anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects, while polysaccharides can modulate immune responses and improve the bioavailability of other compounds. It is these forms of synergy that form the backbone of the wide-ranging pharmacological activities both in traditional uses and in modern applications (Lu et al., 2021). 3 Anti-inflammatory Effects and Mechanisms of Glycyrrhiza 3.1 Regulation of inflammatory mediators Bioactive compounds such as Glycyrrhizic acid, glabridin, and flavonoids, from Glycyrrhiza, significantly suppress the production and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in several in vitro and in vivo models. These effects have been seen in LPS-stimulated microglial cells, macrophages, and animal models of inflammatory disease, in which licorice constituents decrease cytokine mRNA and protein levels, as well as other mediators such as COX-2 and iNOS (Frattaruolo et al., 2019; Ko et al., 2021; Cheng et al., 2023). 3.2 Key signaling pathways (NF-κB, MAPK, JAK/STAT) Anti-inflammatory activities of Glycyrrhiza components are mediated predominantly through inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Glycyrrhizic acid, licoflavanone, glabridin, and isoliquiritigenin suppress the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB subunits and inhibit the activation of the MAPK pathway, including that of ERK, JNK, and p38. Modulation of the JAK/STAT pathway is supported by some evidence, additionally dampening inflammatory signaling cascades (Sun et al., 2022; Cheng et al., 2025). 3.3 Modulation of immune cell functions Licorice extracts and their bioactive compounds modulate immune cell activity through the inhibition of inflammatory cell infiltration, suppression of the activation of macrophages and microglia, and control of T cell differentiation. These may be responsible for the attenuation of tissue inflammation, improvement in disease symptoms in models of dermatitis, colitis, and pneumonia, as reported in some current literature (Ko et al., 2021; Sun et al., 2022; Cheng et al., 2023). 3.4 Antioxidant and cytoprotective effects Both flavonoids and triterpenoids from Glycyrrhiza are potent antioxidants, mitigating ROS generation and increasing cellular antioxidant capacity. These effects prevent oxidative stress-related tissue injury and contribute to the anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective activities of licorice (Frattaruolo et al., 2019; Sun et al., 2022). 4 Antiviral Effects and Mechanisms of Glycyrrhiza 4.1 Inhibition of viral replication and entry These compounds have inhibiting actions on viral replication through a mechanism of action that involves the inhibition of key viral enzymes, such as the main protease of SARS-CoV-2, and interference with viral entry into host cells. They can act directly by binding to viral surface proteins-e.g., spike protein of coronaviruses, envelope protein of dengue virus-and, as a result, prevent attachment and fusion with host cell membranes. Glycyrrhiza-based carbon dots and polysaccharides interfere with viral invasion and replication and can also stimulate host antiviral responses (Li et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2025). 4.2 Activity against different types of viruses Glycyrrhiza exhibits anti-viral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses, including HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, dengue virus, pseudorabies virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, and influenza viruses. In animal models, its efficacy in reducing viral loads and improving clinical outcomes was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo (Tong et al., 2020; Huan et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2025). 4.3 Key targets and signaling pathway regulation The antiviral mechanism of Glycyrrhiza includes direct interaction with viral proteins such as spike protein and main protease, inhibition of virus-host receptor binding-such as ACE2 for SARS-CoV-2-and modulation of host signaling pathways, including the HMGB1/TLR4-MAPK p38 pathway. These mechanisms help in not only
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