Glycyrrhetinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid that is olean-12-ene substituted by a hydroxy group at position 3, an oxo group at position 11 and a carboxy group at position 30. It has a role as an immunomodulator and a plant metabolite. It is a pentacyclic triterpenoid, a hydroxy monocarboxylic acid and a cyclic terpene ketone. It is a conjugate acid of a glycyrrhetinate. It derives from a hydride of an oleanane.