Advances in Research on Anti-cancer Mechanism of 18β Glycyrrhetinic Acid

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch has been used to treat the symptoms of organ fever, food poisoning, typhoid fever, sore throat, cough due to lung heat, children’s diseases and so on since the ancient times. It is a solid Chinese herbal medicine which is good for the health. In recent years, it has been found that licorice extract also has excellent anti-cancer effect. The 18β glycyrrhetinic acid, obtained by hydrolysis of precursor glycyrrhizic acid, is a relatively efficient anti-cancer ingredient. 18β glycyrrhetinic acid can exert anti-cancer effects by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis of cancer cells, inhibiting invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, preventing oxidation, inhibiting neovascularization, inhibiting lymphangiogenesis, and regulating hormone secretion. This paper reviewed the advances in research of the anticancer mechanism of 18β glycyrrhetinic acid, to provide a theoretical basis for future research.