review · Molecules
Ursolic acid is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid found in common plants such as apples, thyme, and rosemary. It displays a wide range of pharmacological properties, which can be further improved through chemical modifications. Multiple synthetic derivatives of ursolic acid have been developed to enhance these beneficial traits. Evidence from both laboratory cell studies and animal trials confirms that ursolic acid and its modified forms exhibit varied biological effects. These include anticancer, antifungal, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral actions. Evaluating the relationship between the chemical structure of these molecules and their biological activity clarifies how they interact with specific molecular targets and pathways, offering insights into their potential utility for treating various human diseases.
Many modern medicines originate from natural plant compounds. By modifying the chemical structure of ursolic acid, scientists can design more potent therapeutic agents. Mapping how these derivatives function against specific biological pathways aids the long-term discovery and development of treatments for major health conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and infectious diseases.
The findings are relevant to pharmaceutical and biotechnology drug discovery programmes seeking lead compounds for anticancer, anti-infective, or metabolic therapies. However, because the work focuses on structural reviews, in vitro assays, and in vivo laboratory models, these compounds represent early-stage drug discovery and remain distant from clinical commercialisation.
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Ursolic acid (UA) and its derivatives have garnered significant attention due to their extensive pharmacological activity. UA is a pentacyclic triterpenoid found in a variety of plants, such as apples, rosemary, thyme, etc., and it possesses a range of pharmacological properties. Researchers have synthesized various derivatives of UA through structural modifications to enhance its potential pharmacological properties. Various in vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that UA and its derivatives possess diverse biological activities, such as anticancer, antifungal, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. This review article provides a review of the biological activities of UA and its derivatives to show their valuable therapeutic properties useful in the treatment of different diseases, mainly focusing on the relevant structure-activity relationships (SARs), the underlying molecular targets/pathways, and modes of action.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29163884
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