Ursolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid found in many plant species. It has a molecular weight of 456.68 grams per mole and the chemical formula C30H48O3. This compound goes by many names including: malol, micromerol, urson, and prunol. Its chemical name is a mouthful: (3b)-3-hydroxy urs-12-en-28-oic acid.
In plants, ursolic acid and its isomer, oleanolic acid, appear to be a component of the waxy coats of leaves and the outer coverings of fruit. While ursolic acid is found throughout the plant kingdom, some plant species hold substantially larger amounts than others.
Plant species high in ursolic acid:
- Salvia triloba Greek Sage
- Nerium oleander Oleander
- Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary
- Vinca minor Periwinkle
- Lavendula latifolia Spike lavender
- Thymus vulgaris Thyme
- Ocimum species Holy Basil, etc.
- Eribotrya japonica Loquat leaf
Over 700 published studies have explored the pharmacological effects of ursolic acid in many human, animal, and cell models. This research has elucidated several properties useful in the management of human pathological conditions.
Prominent characteristics of ursolic acid:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-tumor
- Anti-microbial
- Insulin supportive
- Liver protective
Ursolic acid appears to inhibit the creation of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) at the DNA level. Cells like macrophages and epithelial tissue create COX-2 when encountering inflammation. This enzyme signals for a type of lipid called arachadonic acid to be taken from the membranes of these cells and transformed into inflammatory messengers. These messengers include prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and Tumor Necrosis Factor -alpha (TNF-alpha). Inflammatory messengers are a key component of allergies and autoimmune conditions where the body's defenses attack itself.
They also appear to be a key component of cancers. COX-2 is over expressed in the transformed cells of most cancers and the end-product prostaglandins have been indicated in tumor growth and metastasis. In topical applications, ursolic acid inhibits elastase and other factors associated with photo-aging of skin. This may help in the treatment of wrinkles and age spots. In China, ursolic acid has been incorporated in the treatment of various liver conditions.
Ursolic Acid also exhibits antimicrobial activity against several types of bacteria and fungi including Candida albicans, notorious for thrush and “yeast infections”.
Toxicity
At this time, no known toxicity has been recorded regarding the use of ursolic acid. This includes both oral and topical applications. This chemical is found in many healing botanicals and used throughout different traditional systems of medicine.
Dosage
While studies have used dosages ranging from 10 – 3000 mg, the average treatment dosage appears to be between 250 and 500 mg a day. Many products in the health food marketplace appear to be herbal extracts like Holy Basil yielding about 2.5% ursolic acid.
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