http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L11345751.htm

Liquorice compound may help SARS patients - study

LONDON, June 13 (Reuters) - A compound isolated from the root of the liquorice plant could be more effective than current treatments for SARS, the flu-like virus that has killed 780 people worldwide, German scientists said on Friday.

Glycyrrhizin, or liquorice root, is already given to patients suffering from HIV and hepatitis C. Researchers at Frankfurt University Medical School now believe it could help to combat SARS.

"Our findings suggest that glycyrrhizin should be assessed for treatment of SARS," Jindrick Cinatl said in a report in The Lancet medical journal.

SARS, which first broke out in southern China last year and spread beyond Asia to 30 countries through international air travel, is currently treated with the drug ribavirin and steroids but some doctors question their effectiveness.

The German scientists compared the glycyrrhizin and four other compounds, including ribavirin, on two samples of the coronavirus which causes the disease that had been isolated from SARS patients.

Glycyrrhizin was the most potent antiviral in inhibiting the replication of the virus.

"In addition to inhibition of virus replication, glycyrrhizin inhibits absorption and penetration of the virus -- early steps of the replicative cycle," Cinatl said.

Although the researchers do not understand exactly how it works, they said it seems to interfere with viral replication. Side-effects include raised blood pressure but the treatment would probably only be needed for a short time.

"Since the side-effects of this compound are known and can be controlled for, proper monitoring could lead to effective use of glycyrrhizin as a treatment for SARS," Cinatl added.

Most cases of SARS have occurred in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Toronto is the hardest hit city outside of Asia. The World Health Organisation said it may renew a warning against travel to Toronto if a feared upsurge in SARS is confirmed.

■ 「甘草」新型肺炎に有効、独で発見

________________________________________________2003/06/15/99:99読売新聞ＷＥＢ版

　甘味料や生薬として使われる「甘草」の主成分「グリチルリチン」が、新型肺炎（重症急性呼吸器症候群＝ＳＡＲＳ）の治療薬として有望なことを、独フランクフルト大が発見した。ＳＡＲＳウイルスに効果のある薬剤が確認されたのは初めて。

　グリチルリチンは抗ウイルス薬としてエイズやＣ型肝炎の治療に使われており、研究者らは「副作用が少ない薬で、効果的な治療につながる」と期待している。この成果は１４日付の英医学誌「ランセット」に発表された。

　同大は、ＳＡＲＳウイルスをサルの細胞に感染させ、５種類の抗ウイルス薬を加えて効果を調べた。その結果、グリチルリチンは、副作用のほとんど出ない量でも、ウイルス増殖を抑制でき、安全な治療薬として有望なことがわかった。

　ほかの二剤は細胞を殺す濃度とウイルスを抑える濃度の差が少なく、副作用の危険が大きかった。また香港でＳＡＲＳ治療に多用されたリバビリンなど二剤は、治療効果が全く見られなかった。