What are the side effects of ursolic acid?

1. Powerful Anti-inflammatory and Skin-Soothing Properties

Ursolic acid possesses exceptional anti-inflammatory capabilities, effectively inhibiting the release of key inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). This property makes it an excellent soothing ingredient in skincare products, helping to reduce redness, swelling, irritation, and other inflammatory reactions. It is particularly suitable for sensitive skin care and helps improve inflammatory skin problems such as acne and eczema, helping the skin restore stability and health.

2. Comprehensive Antioxidant and Anti-aging Effects

As a powerful natural antioxidant, ursolic acid can directly neutralize and eliminate harmful free radicals. In skincare, this manifests as helping to resist photoaging damage caused by environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation and pollution. By protecting collagen and elastin from excessive degradation, it effectively delays the formation of wrinkles and sagging, maintaining skin firmness and a youthful appearance.

3. Significant Liver Protection

Liver protection is one of the most prominent benefits of ursolic acid. Studies have shown that ursolic acid has a clear protective effect against liver damage caused by various chemicals (such as carbon tetrachloride). It can reduce liver inflammation and fibrosis through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms and may promote hepatocyte regeneration. Therefore, ursolic acid is often used as an important functional ingredient in liver-protecting health products.

4. Potential Anti-tumor and Health Benefits

Ursolic acid shows broad research prospects in the field of anti-tumor therapy. Numerous preclinical experiments have confirmed that it can exert anti-cancer activity through multiple pathways, including inducing apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibiting their proliferation and metastasis. In addition, it also exhibits diverse health potential in areas such as lowering blood lipids, protecting the cardiovascular system, antibacterial and antiviral activity, and neuroprotection, making it a highly anticipated multifunctional natural compound.​​​​​​​

1. Side Effects of Topical (Skincare Products)

Topical ursolic acid in skincare products is generally considered very safe, with rare and mild side effects.

• Main Risk: Skin irritation or contact allergy. In a small number of people with particularly sensitive skin, or when the concentration of ursolic acid in the product is too high, mild redness, itching, stinging, or dryness may occur locally. This is similar to reactions that may occur with other active ingredients.
• Safety Recommendations: Before using a new skincare product containing ursolic acid, it is recommended to perform a skin test. Apply the product to the back of the ear or the inside of the arm for several consecutive days to confirm that there are no adverse reactions before using it on the face. If you have sensitive skin, start using it at a low frequency to allow your skin to gradually build up tolerance.

2. Side Effects of Oral (As a Supplement or Medication)

The more significant side effects and potential risks of ursolic acid mainly come from oral administration. Currently, most safety data comes from animal studies; research in humans is insufficient.

• Hepatotoxicity (at very high doses): This is the most concerning potential side effect of ursolic acid. In animal studies at doses far exceeding the recommended levels, ursolic acid has been observed to cause elevated liver enzymes and liver damage. However, importantly, at low to moderate doses, many studies have shown that ursolic acid has a protective effect on the liver. This indicates that its effects are typically dose-dependent, meaning that "it is unscientific to discuss toxicity without considering dosage." Consuming natural foods (such as apple peels) or taking supplements at the recommended dosage is safe, but self-administering excessively high doses carries risks.
• Gastrointestinal discomfort: Some people may experience stomach upset, diarrhea, or nausea after taking ursolic acid supplements orally. This is similar to many plant extracts and is usually dose-related.

3.Drug interactions

• Hepatic metabolism of drugs: Ursolic acid is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system in the liver. Therefore, it may theoretically affect the blood concentrations of drugs metabolized via the same pathway, thereby enhancing their side effects or reducing their efficacy. Although specific human clinical data are limited, people taking prescription drugs (especially anticancer drugs, anticoagulants, etc.) should exercise caution.
• Diabetes medication: Studies have shown that ursolic acid may affect blood sugar levels. If taken with hypoglycemic drugs, there may be an additive effect, leading to the risk of hypoglycemia, requiring close monitoring of blood sugar.

  

1. Pharmaceutical and Health Fields

This is the core and most in-depth research area for ursolic acid applications.

• Anti-tumor effects: Ursolic acid exerts significant anti-tumor activity through multiple pathways, including inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death), inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, and inhibiting cancer cell invasion and metastasis. It has inhibitory effects on various cancer cell lines, including leukemia, breast cancer, and colon cancer, making it a potential adjuvant drug or lead compound for anti-cancer treatment.
• Hepatoprotective effects: Ursolic acid possesses excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, combating liver damage caused by chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride, inhibiting liver fibrosis and activation of hepatic stellate cells, and improving fatty liver and hepatitis, showing promising prospects for liver protection.
• Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects: Ursolic acid can effectively scavenge free radicals, inhibit lipid peroxidation, and regulate key inflammatory signaling pathways such as NF-κB, reducing inflammatory responses. This makes it valuable for treating inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and dermatitis, as well as for delaying aging.
• Prevention and Treatment of Metabolic Diseases: Studies have shown that ursolic acid can improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels, showing potential for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. Simultaneously, it can regulate lipid metabolism, helping to lower blood lipids and combat atherosclerosis.
• Neuroprotective Effects: Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities extend to the nervous system, potentially offering some protection against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting β-amyloid protein aggregation and tau protein hyperphosphorylation.

2. Cosmetics and Skincare Products

• Whitening and Dark Spot Reduction: It effectively inhibits the activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme in melanin synthesis, thereby reducing melanin production at its source, achieving whitening, brightening, and dark spot reduction effects.
• Anti-aging and Firming: Through its powerful antioxidant capacity, ursolic acid protects skin cells from oxidative damage caused by environmental factors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, reduces collagen degradation, helps delay skin aging, reduces wrinkles, and maintains skin elasticity.
• Antibacterial and Anti-acne Properties: Ursolic acid has a significant inhibitory effect on skin pathogens such as Propionibacterium acnes, which causes acne. It also possesses anti-inflammatory properties, helping to alleviate redness and swelling of acne, and can be used to develop acne-reducing products.

3. Food and Health Products

• Natural Preservative: Ursolic acid has a strong inhibitory effect on various foodborne pathogens and spoilage bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), and can be used as a natural and safe food preservative to extend the shelf life of food.
• Functional Food Additive: Based on its health benefits such as lowering blood sugar, lowering blood lipids, and protecting the liver, ursolic acid is added to various health products or functional foods to help regulate bodily health and meet people's growing health needs.

4. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

• Plant-Derived Pesticides: Ursolic acid has inhibitory and bactericidal effects on some agricultural pests and plant pathogens, and can be used as a raw material for developing low-toxicity, environmentally friendly plant-derived pesticides.
• Animal feed additives: In animal husbandry, adding them to feed may utilize their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties to enhance animal immunity, promote growth and reduce the use of antibiotics.

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