Novosibirsk researchers isolated a compound derived from licorice root extract that shows promise for treating acute severe respiratory failure, including cases linked to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The information is based on a briefing from the Institute of Chemical Biology and Basic Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Teams from the Institute of Chemical Biology and Basic Medicine and the Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry named after NN Vorozhtsov collaborated to create a series of molecules built around glycyrrhetinic acid, a key constituent extracted from licorice. These compounds underwent screening in laboratory mice that possessed a model of acute lung injury mirroring the human condition known as acute respiratory distress syndrome during viral infection. From this work, a standout entity emerged, referred to in the preliminary reports as Supersodoka, which demonstrated a strong ability to halt the progression of inflammatory changes in lung tissue during respiratory inflammation.
According to a senior researcher from the nucleic acid biochemistry laboratory at the Institute, the compound effectively blocked the cytokine storm observed in the mouse model, triggered an antioxidant response in lung cells, protected these cells from inflammation-induced death, and substantially reduced thrombin activity, a factor implicated in the COVID-19 related surge in blood clotting. These findings point to a potential mechanism by which the compound could mitigate tissue damage in the lungs during severe viral infection and systemic inflammation.
At the dose levels tested, Supersodoka did not exhibit toxic effects in the animal studies. If these results translate to humans, the compound could serve as a foundation for new therapeutics aimed at cushioning lung tissue against damage during hyperinflammation associated with viral respiratory diseases. The chemical structure of Supersodoka shares similarities with bardoxolone methyl, a compound that has progressed through multiple clinical trial stages in patients with COVID-19 in the United States.
In related discourse, some studies discuss the broader idea that consistent, moderated intake of natural products can influence immune system aging and resilience over time. This area of inquiry continues to attract attention for its potential to complement targeted pharmaceutical strategies in managing severe respiratory illnesses. [Attribution: Institute of Chemical Biology and Basic Medicine, SB RAS; Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry named after NN Vorozhtsov]