Medicinal Plant Research 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 283-290 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 286 blocking viral replication but also suppressing virus-induced inflammation and oxidative stress (Li et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2025). 4.4 In vitro and in vivo experiments and pharmacological validation Extensive in vitro studies of Glycyrrhiza extracts and isolated compounds have shown the inhibition of viral infection, replication, and cytopathic effects in cell cultures. In vivo studies have also been performed in mouse models of coronavirus and dengue virus infection. This resulted in reduced viral titers, alleviated symptoms, and improved survival after treatment with compounds from Glycyrrhiza, further supporting their pharmacological potential as antiviral agents (Tong et al., 2020; Li et al., 2021). 5 Multi-omics Approaches and Modern Technological Applications inGlycyrrhiza Research 5.1 Application of genomics in bioactive component research Through a comparative genomics approach between Glycyrrhiza species, key genes and structural variations accounting for the biosynthesis of glycyrrhizin and characteristic flavonoids were pinpointed. High-quality genome assemblies and analyses of gene function have identified key transcription factors and biosynthetic enzymes involved in the production of pharmacologically active compounds, supporting molecular breeding and synthetic biology applications (Li et al., 2025; Zhou et al., 2025). 5.2 Insights from proteomics and metabolomics The integration of metabolomics and transcriptomic analyses led to several thousand metabolites being identified, including flavonoids and terpenoids, and their association with gene expression patterns across the species of Glycyrrhiza. Proteomics and metabolomics have also been put into application in species differentiation and elucidation of the mechanisms behind some pharmacological effects (Yan et al., 2022; Lu et al., 2025). 5.3 Systems biology and network pharmacology approaches Network pharmacology and systems biology approaches, facilitated by metabolomics, have thereby delineated the multi-target and multi-pathway actions of bioactive compounds in Glycyrrhiza. The hub genes, key signaling pathways, and protein-protein interaction networks associated with different diseases can be exposed using these approaches, which can shed light at the systems level and explain the therapeutic effect of Glycyrrhiza (Sharma and Yadav, 2022). 5.4 Potential of artificial intelligence and big data in natural product research Artificial intelligence, including machine learning and semantic technologies, currently has an increased application to multi-omics data integration, target prediction, and drug-likeness screening. Such tools extend data visualization, predictive modeling, and the discovery of new bioactive compounds, thereby accelerating natural product research and applications in personalized medicine (Toussaint et al., 2023; De Filippis et al., 2025). 6 Clinical Research and Applications of Glycyrrhiza: Anti-Inflammatory and Antiviral Effects 6.1 Progress in clinical studies on anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects Clinical trials and translational studies have revealed the remarkable anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities of Glycyrrhiza extracts and glycyrrhizin. More importantly, a randomized clinical trial of nebulized glycyrrhizin/enoxolone in COVID-19 patients modulated inflammatory cytokines, especially IL-17A, and improved antiviral immune responses without any serious side effects, highlighting safety and efficacy in acute viral infection, as evidenced by Zendejas-Hernandez et al. (2024). Glycyrrhizin is given intravenously for chronic hepatitis and acute autoimmune hepatitis, resulting in improved liver function and reducing the progression to hepatocellular carcinoma, according to Pastorino et al. (2018); Batiha et al. (2020). Antiviral activities of Glycyrrhiza extracts have been determined against herpes simplex, influenza virus, and dengue virus, thus displaying broad-spectrum activity through the action mode related to virus replication inhibition and host immune response modulation (Sun et al., 2019; Stecanella et al., 2021; Shi et al., 2023) (Figure 2). 6.2 Safety and toxicological evaluations Glycyrrhiza and its main constituent, glycyrrhizin, are GRAS in foods and pharmaceuticals, respectively, and are widely used clinically for many years. Recent research supports their safety profile: low toxicity, both in vivo and
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