[Research progress on anti-tumor pharmacological activities and mechanisms of glycyrrhizic acid].
摘要
The incidence and mortality of malignant tumors remain persistently high, while current clinical chemotherapeutic agents are often limited by significant drug resistance and adverse reactions. Consequently, small-molecule compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) have emerged as a focus in anti-tumor research owing to their advantages of multi-targeting action and low toxicity. As the core active component of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, glycyrrhizic acid(GA) is an oleanane-type pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin, constituting 5%-11% of the total content of G. uralensis. Its anti-tumor activity has been validated across various tumor systems, with mechanisms of action encompassing key processes such as cell cycle arrest, induction of tumor cell apoptosis, inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, blockage of invasion and metastasis, regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME), and alleviation of chronic inflammation. In terms of its therapeutic value, the combination of glycyrrhizic acid with other agents, such as tanshinone Ⅱ_A(Chinese medicine) or cisplatin(conventional chemotherapy) can achieve enhanced efficacy, reduced toxicity, targeted delivery, and reversal of drug resistance. This positions GA as possessing dual values, functioning both as a therapeutic agent and as a drug delivery carrier. This review systematically summarized the anti-tumor pharmacological activities, mechanisms, combined medication potential, and safety profiles of GA. It elaborated on the network mechanism of core regulatory hubs, analyzed the limitations of current research, and proposed targeted strategies for clinical translation. This work aims to provide a reference for the transition of GA from fundamental research to clinical application, while also offering a paradigm for the development of anti-tumor small-molecule compounds from TCM.