Glycyrrhizin (GL) achieved a dose-dependent inhibition of the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in MOLT-4 (clone No. 8) cells within the concentration range of 0.075 to 0.6 mM. Within this concentration range, GL also effected a dose-dependent reduction in the protein kinase C (PKC) activity of MOLT-4 (clone No. 8) cells. A well-known PKC inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H-7), also proved inhibitory to HIV-1 replication in MOLT-4 (clone No. 8) cells. PKC inhibition may thus be considered as one of the mechanisms by which GL inhibits HIV-1 replication. In addition, GL may also owe its anti-HIV-1 activity, at least in part, to an interference with virus-cell binding, since the compound at 1.2 mM partially inhibited the adsorption of radiolabeled HIV-1 particles to MT-4 cells. At this concentration GL also suppressed giant cell formation induced by co-culturing MOLT-4 (clone No. 8) cells with MOLT-4/HTLV-IIIB cells, whereas the PKC inhibitor H-7 failed to do so.