The extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) has been widely used for many centuries in the traditional Chinese medicine as native anti-allergic agent. Glycyrrhizin (GL), a triterpenoid-saponin, extracted from the roots of licorice is the most effective compound for inflammation and allergic diseases in human body. The biological and pharmacological studies revealed that GL possesses many pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and liver protective effects, and the biological effects, such as induction of cytokines (interferon-g and IL-12), chemokines as well as extrathymic T and anti-type 2 T cells. This review describes (i) the pharmacological property of GL as an effective anti-inflammatory and anti-viral drug; (ii) the biochemical characteristics of several GL-binding proteins (gbPs) involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects of 68GL and the GL-induced selective inhibition of the phosphorylation of these gbPs by GL-binding protein kinases in vitro; and (iii) the mechanisms involved in the GL-induced inhibition of the replication of both RNA and DNA viruses. In addition, recent reports concerning the mechanical actions involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects of GL in vivo and in vitro and its clinical effects on chronic active liver disease and viral infection are summarized.

The electro-oxidation of valacyclovir has been studied at a glassy carbon electrode in phosphate buffer media by using cyclic voltammetric technique. Effects of anodic peak potential (Epa), anodic peak current (ipa), pH and heterogeneous rate constant (ko) have been discussed, single irreversible voltammogram was observed. The effects of scan rate, pH, concentration and temperature were evaluated. The electrode processes were shown to be diffusion controlled and irreversible involving adsorption effects. The electro-oxidation product of valacyclovir has been identified by MALDI2-((2-amine-6, 8-dioxo-7, 8-dihydro-3H-purin9(6H)-yl)methoxy)ethyl2-amino-3-methylbutanoate), involving 2-electron and 2-porton oxidation. Thermodynamic parameters such as activation energy Ea=27. 51 kJmol-1, enthalpy Δ H#=25. 03 kJmol-1, entropy Δ S#=-284. 8 JK-1mol-1, Gibbs free energy Δ G#=109. 9 kJmol-1 and Arrhenius factor, logA=-2. 08 and analytical parameters linearity range 5. 0×10-3 to 7. 5×10-5 M, LOD=1. 44 μ M, LOQ=4. 83 μ M and RSD=5. 26% were calculated and presented.