Despite the recent dynamic development of medicine,
influenza is still a significant epidemiological problem for people around the world. The growing resistance of influenza viruses to currently available
antiviral drugs makes it necessary to search for new compounds or
drug forms with potential high efficacy against
human influenza A and B viruses. One of the methods of obtaining new active compounds is to chemically modify privileged structures occurring in the natural environment. The second
solution, that is gaining more and more interest, is the use of modern
drug carriers, which significantly improve physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters of the transported substances. Molecules known from the earliest times for their numerous therapeutic properties are
glycyrrhizinic acid (GA) and
glycyrrhetinic acid (GE). Both compounds constitute the main active agents of the licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Leguminosae) root and, according to a number of scientific reports, show
antiviral properties against both
DNA and RNA viruses. The above information prompted many scientific teams around the world to obtain and test in vitro and/or in vivo new synthetic GA and GE derivatives against
influenza A and B viruses. Similarly, in recent years, a significant amount of GA and GE-based drug delivery systems (DDS) such as nanoparticles,
micelles,
liposomes, nanocrystals, and
carbon dots has been prepared and tested for
antiviral activity, including those against
influenza A and B viruses. This work systematizes the attempts undertaken to study the
antiviral activity of new GA and GE analogs and modern DDS against clinically significant
human influenza viruses, at the same time indicating the directions of their further development.