The pandemic caused by novel coronavirus disease 2019 infecting millions of populations worldwide and the lack of specific treatment necessitate the use of all resources to remedy this scourge. The chemically-diverse natural products have been valuable sources for drug leads for centuries. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history and achieved remarkable therapeutic effect during the treatment period of COVID-19 in China. This brief article discusses the therapeutic potential of some bioactive compounds from liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root for the treatment of COVID-19 by binding to cathepsin L. Virtual screening of a small database of 135 natural compounds from liquorice was applied via molecular docking using Schrodinger®Maestro interphase against cathepsin L crystal structure; an endosomal cysteine protease necessary for coronavirus entry and replication. The structure activity relationship (SAR) of top hits was analyzed and the oral absorption and toxicity of the active compounds were predicted using Qikprop module. Based on the binding energy, Promising docking outcomes have been executed which evidenced the worthy of Liquorice as it contains several phytoconstituents acting as a potential inhibitor of cathepsin L with the most active one the triterpenoidal saponin Glabrannin B for future drug development to combat coronavirus disease and may help explaining the essential role of Liquorice in Chinese herbal medicine protocol for prevention and treatment of the coronavirus 19.
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