Glycyrrhizinic acid, a major bioactive component of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), has been used in the management of hepatitis, particularly in Japan and some other Asian countries. Scientific validation for its use comes from both in vitro and clinical studies. The most notable clinical application is the injectable preparation known as Stronger Neo-Minophagen C (SNMC), which contains glycyrrhizin and has been used since the 1970s to treat chronic hepatitis and to reduce hepatic inflammation.

Clinical studies, including randomized controlled trials and observational studies, have shown that glycyrrhizin can reduce serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and may slow hepatic fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C. Its proposed mechanisms include anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and hepatoprotective effects, possibly through inhibition of viral replication, reduction of oxidative stress, and modulation of immune responses. Glycyrrhizin has been shown to inhibit hepatitis C virus replication in vitro and may also reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in long-term users.

However, the evidence base is not considered robust by Western standards due to limitations such as small sample sizes, lack of placebo controls in some studies, and geographic concentration of research. Major guidelines do not recommend glycyrrhizin as a standard treatment, but it is recognized as supportive therapy in some Asian contexts. Side effects, particularly those related to pseudoaldosteronism (hypertension, hypokalemia), also limit its widespread use.