Advances in the roles of glycyrrhizic acid in cancer therapy

Since the first 70 years of reporting cancer chemotherapy, malignant tumors have been second most common cause death in children and adults. Currently, commonly used anti-cancer methods include surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy. Although these treatment could alleviate cancer, they lead to different forms side effects no particularly significant effect on prolonging patients’ life span. Glycyrrhizic acid (GL), a native Chinese herbal extract, has wide range pharmacological effects, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune regulation. In this review, mechanisms GL are summarized various cancers. The inhibition chemotherapy-induced including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity pulmonary toxicity, is highlighted. Therefore, may be promising ideal drug for therapy.