Hepatoma, one of the most common fatal malignant tumors, exhibits a rising global incidence, especially in developing countries. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has played an increasingly significant role in hepatoma treatment. Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis), a perennial herb in the legume family, is also known as G. uralensis, sweet root, sweet grass, and ancient Chinese grass. Its roots and rhizomes are used medicinally for their properties to nourish Qi, detoxify, and harmonized the effects of various compounds. This study selected “Glycyrrhiza”, “hepatoma”, and “pharmacological effect” as key search terms. From PubMed, a total of 2,947 articles were retrieved containing these keywords in either the abstract or title, among which 12 were relevant to Glycyrrhiza and hepatoma. Additionally, from the Wanfang database, 19,632 papers were retrieved with “Glycyrrhiza” in the abstract or title, among which 197 were related to Glycyrrhiza and hepatoma. This review focuses on the anti-hepatoma properties of Glycyrrhiza, providing a comprehensive overview of its common extracts, such as flavonoids, triterpenoids, and polysaccharides, and elaborating on their chemical structures, anti-hepatoma cancer mechanisms, and other pharmacological effects.
