Glabridin

Glabridin is a prenylated isoflavonoid found in licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) root extract that is reported to possess antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiatherogenic, antioxidant, antitumor and estrogen-like properties. These diverse biological activities are largely related to the capacity of glabridin to down-regulate reactive oxygen species, bind to antioxidant effectors and act as a selective estrogen receptor modulator. On a molecular level it is, next to other targets, activating PPARγ, inhibiting JNK1/2 and human carboxylesterase 2 (CES2A). Based on its antioxidant capacity it is also studied as an anti-aging cosmetic agent. Recently, it has been shown in docking experiments to have high binding affinity to the main protease of SARS-CoV-2.