ReviewMolecular biology reports2026
Ursolic acid in cancer therapy: a review of signaling pathways and apoptotic mechanisms.
Review in Molecular biology reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
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Abstract
Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid present in numerous fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs, possesses antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory & anticancer properties due to its multi-targeted mechanisms of action. This review primarily focuses on the antitumor potential of UA, highlighting its modulation of key cellular signalling pathways and apoptotic mechanisms. UA exerts its anticancer effects by targeting major oncogenic pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK, NF-κB, and JAK/STAT, thereby inhibiting cancer tumor growth, survival, and metastasis. Additionally, it also induces apoptosis via both mitochondrial (intrinsic) and extrinsic death receptor-mediated (extrinsic) pathways, contributing to enhanced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress within cancer cells. UA disrupts cancer stem cell properties and counteracts drug resistance. To overcome the limitations posed by its poor solubility and low bioavailability, various nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have been developed to enhance its therapeutic potential. Despite significant progress in preclinical studies, the precise molecular mechanisms and optimal therapeutic doses of UA remain to be fully elucidated to advance its translation into clinical cancer therapy. This review highlights current findings and provides future directions for the development of UA as a complementary or standalone anticancer agent.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.