甘草エキスグリチルリチンがSARSを防ぐ

大量の服用が必要だが、気休めにはなるか。
http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,59605,00.html

An extract of the plant's root stopped the virus from growing in a dish of infected monkey cells, according to researchers at Frankfurt University Medical School. SARS has killed more than 800 people, and researchers have not yet found a reliable treatment or cure. Caregivers typically administer ribavirin and steroids, but results are unpredictable.

The licorice extract, called glycyrrhizin, prevents the virus from inserting itself into cells, the researchers said in their study published in the June 14 issue of The Lancet.