Glycyrrhizic acid and its derivatives mitigate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-induced cells, downregulate the protein levels of phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K) and phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT), reduce the expression of cleaved Caspase-1 and NLRP3, and inhibit the formation of NLRP3 inflammasomes, thereby providing protection against ALI. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.