Ursolic acid · Ursolic acid (pentacyclic triterpenoid found in apple peel, rosemary, and other plants)
A plant-derived triterpenoid studied for its potential to counter age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) via myostatin suppression, though the sole completed human RCT found no benefit over placebo.
Short answer
Ursolic acid (Ursolic acid (pentacyclic triterpenoid found in apple peel, rosemary, and other plants)) is a muscle preservation / anti-sarcopenia with evidence grade D, meaning it is primarily supported by animal studies. We track 0 produkter containing Ursolic acid. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $0.00 per månad.
What it is
Ursolic acid is found in the waxy peel of apples, in rosemary, and various other plants, and has been studied primarily in mouse models for its effects on muscle mass and strength.
Why people take it
Sarcopenia — the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength with age — is a major driver of frailty and disability in older adults. Preclinical work suggested ursolic acid could counter muscle wasting by suppressing myostatin (a protein that inhibits muscle growth), making it a candidate anti-sarcopenia supplement.
Our verdict
This is a clear case of promising animal data failing to translate: the one completed human RCT combining ursolic acid with resistance training in active men found no additional benefit over placebo for muscle strength or mass. A newer trial in older sarcopenic adults is registered but not yet recruiting, so as of now, human evidence does not support its use for muscle preservation.
Structure & class
Ursolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid; in preclinical models it has been studied for effects on Akt/mTOR signaling and myostatin/activin pathway suppression relevant to muscle protein synthesis.
Mechanism & clinical data
The key human RCT (2021, Clinical Nutrition) randomized 22 active men to 400 mg/day ursolic acid or placebo alongside 8 weeks of resistance training, finding no significant additional effect on muscle strength or mass versus placebo plus training alone — a negative result for the primär proposed use case. Preclinical mechanistic support comes from a mouse model of chronic kidney disease-associated muscle wasting (2017, J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle), which found myostatin suppression with ursolic acid treatment. A new trial (NCT07562698) testing 200 mg or 400 mg/day over 12 weeks specifically in older adults with sarcopenia is registered but not yet recruiting as of the search date.
Pharmacokinetics
Poor oral bioavailability due to low aqueous solubility and extensive first-pass metabolism; specific human half-life data not established in the reviewed trial.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
The only completed human RCT for its primär proposed use (muscle preservation) was negative; poor bioavailability likely limits efficacy of standard oral formulations; minimal human safety data beyond the single 8-week trial.
Where this dose comes from
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regelverk status
Timeline
Regelverk events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Ursolic acid, most recent first. Every entry links to its primär source.
-
EU Court sharpens the bar for botanical health claimsA Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in april 2025 further tightened the requirements for how botanical ingredients (herbs, plant extracts) can be marketed with health claims in the EU, effectively removing much of the flexibility of the on-hold list.
-
EU report identifies 117 supplement substances as potential health risksThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements (26 European countries) published its first report evaluating 117 substances used in food supplements. Of these, 65 were assessed as likely novel foods, 6 were already regulated, 34 had insufficient data, and 12 were prioritized for Article 8 restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The 12 priority substances include ashwagandha, curcumin, melatonin, piperine, St. John's wort, coumarin, p-synephrine, maca, holy basil, Melaleuca, black cohosh, and L-tryptophan. The report drew on 1,500 RASFF alerts reviewed between 2017 and mid-2022.
-
Ursolic acid has no additional effect on muscle strength and mass in active men undergoing a high-protein diet and resistance training: A dubbelblind and placebokontrollerad trial (2021). Clin Nutr. PMID 32593524.Ursolic acid has no additional effect on muscle strength and mass in active men undergoing a high-protein diet and resistance training: A dubbelblind and placebokontrollerad trial (2021). Clin Nutr. PMID 32593524.
-
EU Health Claims Regulation adoptedRegulation (EC) No 1924/2006 laid down harmonised rules for nutrition and health claims made on foods, including supplements. Only claims listed in the EU Register of authorised claims can be used. Rejected botanical claims are held in a separate on-hold list.
-
EU introduces the Novel Food RegulationRegulation (EC) No 258/97 required any food or food ingredient without a history of consumption in the EU before 15 maj 1997 to be authorised before being placed on the market. This is the framework that captures NMN, spermidine as a supplement ingredient, urolithin A, and many other longevity actives.
Landmark studies
-
Ursolic acid has no additional effect on muscle strength and mass in active men undergoing a high-protein diet and resistance training: A dubbelblind and placebokontrollerad trial (2021). Clin Nutr. PMID 32593524.
Ursolic acid has no additional effect on muscle strength and mass in active men undergoing a high-protein diet and resistance training: A dubbelblind and placebokontrollerad trial (2021). Clin Nutr. PMID 32593524.
Läs studie →
Found in these produkter
Alla produkter in our catalog that contain Ursolic acid, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
No produkter in our catalog contain this yet.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
Se alla in Muscle preservation / Anti-sarcopenia →Molekyler in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Ursolic acid in our catalogue.
Nothing else in the database sits close enough to this molecule to list.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ursolic acid?
Ursolic acid is found in the waxy peel of apples, in rosemary, and various other plants, and has been studied primarily in mouse models for its effects on muscle mass and strength.
What dose of Ursolic acid should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 400 mg per dag, with a range of 200 to 400 mg per dag. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Ursolic acid safe?
The only completed human RCT for its primär proposed use (muscle preservation) was negative; poor bioavailability likely limits efficacy of standard oral formulations; minimal human safety data beyond the single 8-week trial.
What is the best Ursolic acid supplement?
We track 0 produkter containing Ursolic acid. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
What is the evidence grade for Ursolic acid?
Ursolic acid has evidence grade D, meaning it is primarily supported by animal studies. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Data verification
Bevisning grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new produkter are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.