Ameliorative effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) on animal and human pulmonary fibrosis: A review of current knowledge

Airway inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and anti-inflammatory therapy effectively improves the symptoms of these diseases. There are more than ۳۰ species of the genus Glycyrrhiza, which are widely distributed throughout the world. Licorice root extracts have beneficial effects in the treatment of throat infections, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases, liver, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunodeficiency. Therefore, the focus of this article is a review of the molecular mechanism of licorice extracts and its four flavonoids (isolycoirithigenin, licoirithigenin, lycalocone and glabidine) and their therapeutic effects on respiratory distress syndrome and fibrosis caused by this disease. Licorice with its combination of flavonoid, triterpenoid, saponin, and isoflavones plays an important role in reducing inflammation, strengthening the immune system and antioxidant properties. Licorice can be a natural alternative to current treatment to eliminate new emerging pathogens such as viral diseases with side effects. Based on this systematic review article, it is suggested that licorice effectively reduces lung inflammation caused by viral pathogens by inhibiting the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the release of inflammatory mediators, which subsequently results in neutrophil recruitment in the lung and neutrophil-mediated oxidative damage, edema and Reduces congestion. Therefore, products that target transforming growth factor (TGF)-β۱ signaling proteins, Smads, and phosphorylated Smads (p-Smads), with the ability of epithelial cells to adopt mesenchymal phenotypes, may be useful in developing therapies. New pulmonary fibrosis should be followed by respiratory distress syndrome.

کلیدواژه ها:

Licorice ، Acute respiratory distress syndrome ، Animal ، Pulmonary fibrosis ، Pathogen