Ursolic acid  (Synonyms: Prunol; Urson; Malol)

Ursolic acid (Prunol) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid, exerts anti-tumor effects and is an effective compound for cancer prevention and therapy.

Ursolic acid induces phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKα) and suppressed the protein expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in the dose-dependent manner^[1].
The combination of Ursolic acid (0.5 μM) and Leucine (10 μM) prove to be the most effective in promoting myogenic differentiation. The combination of Ursolic acid and Leucine significantly increase CK activity than treatment with either agent alone. The level of myosin heavy chain, a myogenic differentiation marker protein, is also enhanced by the combination of Ursolic acid and Leucine^[2].
Ursolic acid efficiently induces apoptosis, possibly via the downregulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), the upregulation of Bcl-2-associated X protein and the proteolytic activation of caspase-3. Furthermore, the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase is increased by the administration of ursolic acid. In addition, Ursolic acid significantly suppresses the invasive phenotype of the SNU-484 cells and significantly decreases the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2^[3].
Ursolic acid (UA) potently induces the apoptosis of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. Further mechanistic studies revealed that the ROCK1/PTEN signaling pathway plays a critical role in Ursolic acid-mediated mitochondrial translocation of cofilin-1 and apoptosis^[4].

MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

Ursolic acid treatment markedly improves the survival of septic rats, and attenuated CLP-induced lung injury, including reduction of lung wet/dry weight ratio, infiltration of leukocytes and proteins, myeloperoxidase activity, and malondialdehyde content. In addition, Ursolic acid significantly decreases the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β, inhibits the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in the lung, which are involved in the productions of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2^[5].

MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

456.70

C₃₀H₄₈O₃

77-52-1

Solid

White to off-white

CC1(C)[C@@H](O)CC[C@]2(C)[C@@]3([H])CC=C4[C@]5([H])[C@@H](C)[C@H](C)CC[C@@](C(O)=O)5CC[C@](C)4[C@@](C)3CC[C@@]12[H]

Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere.

* Please refer to the solubility information to select the appropriate solvent. Once prepared, please aliquot and store the solution to prevent product inactivation from repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Storage method and period of stock solution: -80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month. When stored at -80°C, please use it within 6 months. When stored at -20°C, please use it within 1 month.

• [1]. Yie Y, et al. Ursolic acid inhibited growth of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells through AMPKα-mediated reduction of DNA methyltransferase 1. Mol Cell Biochem. 2014 Dec 30.  [Content Brief]

  [2]. Kim M, et al. The combination of ursolic acid and leucine potentiates the differentiation of C2C12 murine myoblasts through the mTOR signaling pathway. Int J Mol Med. 2015 Mar;35(3):755-62.  [Content Brief]

  [3]. Kim ES, et al. Ursolic acid inhibits the invasive phenotype of SNU-484 human gastric cancer cells. Oncol Lett. 2015 Feb;9(2):897-902.  [Content Brief]

  [4]. Li R, et al. Ursolic Acid Promotes Apoptosis of SGC-7901 Gastric Cancer Cells through ROCK/PTEN Mediated Mitochondrial Translocation of Cofilin-1. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014;15(22):9593-7.  [Content Brief]

  [5]. Hu Z, et al. Ursolic acid improves survival and attenuates lung injury in septic rats induced by cecal ligation and puncture. J Surg Res. 2014 Oct 22. pii: S0022-4804(14)00967-6.  [Content Brief]