Open AccessComputer-Guided Approach to Access the Anti-influenza Activity of Licorice Constituents
Author(s) -
Ulrike Grienke,
Heike Braun,
Nora Seidel,
Johannes Kirchmair,
Martina Richter,
Andi Krumbholz,
Susanne von Grafenstein,
Klaus R. Liedl,
Michaela Schmidtke,
Judith M. Rollinger
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of natural products
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.976
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1520-6025
pISSN - 0163-3864
DOI - 10.1021/np400817j
Subject(s) - traditional medicine , pharmacognosy , stereochemistry , chemistry , biological activity , virology , biology , medicine , biochemistry , in vitro
Neuraminidase (NA), a key enzyme in viral replication, is the first-line drug target to combat influenza. On the basis of a shape-focused virtual screening, the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) were identified as plant species with an accumulation of constituents that show 3D similarities to known influenza NA inhibitors (NAIs). Phytochemical investigation revealed 12 constituents identified as (E)-1-[2,4-dihydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)phenyl]-3-(8-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-yl)-2-propen-1-one (1), 3,4-dihydro-8,8-dimethyl-2H,8H-benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b']dipyran-3-ol (2), biochanin B (3), glabrol (4), glabrone (5), hispaglabridin B (6), licoflavone B (7), licorice glycoside B (8), licorice glycoside E (9), liquiritigenin (10), liquiritin (11), and prunin (12). Eleven of these constituents showed significant influenza virus NA inhibition in a chemiluminescence (CL)-based assay. Additional tests, including (i) a cell-based cytopathic effect inhibition assay (general antiviral activity), (ii) the evaluation of cytotoxicity, (iii) the inhibition of the NA of Clostridium perfringens (CL- and fluorescence (FL)-based assay), and (iv) the determination of self-fluorescence and quenching, provided further perspective on their anti-influenza virus potential, revealing possible assay interference problems and false-positive results. Compounds 1, 3, 5, and 6 showed antiviral activity, most likely caused by the inhibition of NA. Of these, compounds 1, 3, and 6 were highly ranked in shape-focused virtual screening.