Licorice extract inhibits porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in vitro and in vivo

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes severe diarrhea and even death in piglets, resulting in significant economic losses to the pig industry. Because of the ongoing mutation of PEDV, there might be variations between the vaccine strain and the prevailing strain, causing the vaccine to not offer full protection against different PEDV variant strains. Therefore, it is necessary to develop anti-PEDV drugs to compensate for vaccines. This study confirmed the anti-PEDV effect of licorice extract (Le) in vitro and in vivo. Le inhibited PEDV replication in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. By exploring the effect of Le on the life cycle of PEDV, we found that Le inhibited the attachment, internalization, and replication stages of the virus. In vivo, all five piglets in the PEDV-infected group died within 72 h. In comparison, the Le-treated group had a survival rate of 80 % at the same time, with significant relief of clinical symptoms, pathological damage, and viral loads in the jejunum and ileum. Our results suggested that Le can exert anti-PEDV effects in vitro and in vivo. Le is effective and inexpensive; therefore it has the potential to be developed as a new anti-PEDV drug.