Ursolic Acid

Ursolic Acid (CAS 77-52-1) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid found widely across the plant kingdom. It appears in high amounts in the peels of many fruits, especially apples. You can also find it in popular medicinal herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, holy basil, and peppermint.

Researchers have studied ursolic acid extensively in both laboratory and animal models. A systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies confirmed several important benefits.(1) It effectively lowers key inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. At the same time, it increases levels of antioxidant enzymes and significantly reduces markers of oxidative stress. These combined actions help protect cells from damage and support overall health.

Because of its wide distribution in plants, ursolic acid serves as a key marker compound for many botanical extracts. It acts as an essential analytical reference standard in the standardization and quality control of herbal medicines, dietary supplements, and natural product formulations. Laboratories rely on high-purity ursolic acid to perform accurate quantification and validate analytical methods when testing triterpenoid-rich botanicals.

Planta Analytica offers high-purity ursolic acid as part of its curated collection of natural compound standards. This product helps researchers and quality control professionals achieve reliable and reproducible results in phytochemical analysis.

References:

(1) Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of ursolic acid: a systematic review and meta-analysis