Ursolic acid

Ursolic acid belongs to the class of triterpene saponins (of the ursane type) and occurs naturally in catnip (Nepeta cataria), in the wax coatings of apples (Malus), in Agrimoniae Herba (agrimony), summer savory (Satureja hortensis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), in basil, in the little brown burnet (Prunella vulgaris) and in roses (Rosaceae).

Ursolic acid is an antibiotically active pentacyclic triterpenoid that is structurally related to oleanolic acid. It occurs free,
esterified or as an aglycone of triterpene saponins. Ursolic acid is used as an additive in the food industry and in the manufacture of cosmetics.
The pharmacological properties of ursolic acid are of interest as a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (antiphlogistic effect) and due to its (experimentally proven) cytotoxicity (chemotherapeutic effect).

Studies indicate antiviral effects against the SARS-CoV2 virus and the HIV virus.

1. Gai WT et al,(2016) Anti-cancer effect of ursolic acid activates apoptosis through ROCK/PTEN mediated mitochondrial translocation of cofilin-1 in prostate cancer. Oncol Lett 12:28802885.
2. Yin R et al.(2016) Ursolic acid, a potential anticancer compound for breast cancer therapy. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. PubMed PMID: 27469428.
3. Zhang X et al. (2016) p21 induction plays a dual role in anti-cancer activity of ursolic acid. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 241:501-508.
4. Mishra P et al. (2021) A review on the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. Futur J Pharm Sci; 7(1):65. doi: 10.1186/s43094-021-00219-1. Epub 2021 Mar 12. PMID: 33728353; PMCID: PMC7952497.