INVESTIGATION OF THE ANTICANCER PROPERTIES OF GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID DERIVATIVES: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF RECENT SCIENTIFIC STUDIES

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, creating an urgent need for novel and effective therapeutic agents. Natural products and their derivatives continue to serve as valuable sources for anticancer drug discovery. Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid obtained from the hydrolysis of glycyrrhizin from licorice roots (Glycyrrhiza glabra), has attracted considerable scientific attention due to its broad pharmacological activities. Recent studies have demonstrated that structural modification of glycyrrhetinic acid significantly enhances its anticancer potential. This review critically analyzes three peer-reviewed studies published in high-impact international journals between 2020 and 2024 that investigated the anticancer activity of glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives. Particular attention is given to molecular mechanisms, structure–activity relationships (SAR), apoptosis induction, cell-cycle arrest, and signaling pathways involved in tumor suppression. The findings indicate that glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives represent promising lead compounds for future anticancer drug development..