Oleanolic Acid

DescriptionOleanolic acid or oleanic acid is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid with the formula of C30H48O3. It was found in the non-glyceride fraction of olive pomace oil and is widely distributed in food and plants where it exists as a free acid or as an aglycone precursor for triterpenoid saponins, in which it can be linked to one or more sugar chains. It is biosynthesized from lupane. It can rearrange to the isomer, ursolic acid, or be oxidized to taraxasterol and amyrin. Oleanolic acid and its derivatives possess several promising pharmacological activities, such as hepatoprotective effects, and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or anticancer activities.

OccurrenceThe ingredient is mainly extracted from the leaves of Olea europaea and Viscum album L. Besides, it is found in the fruit of ligustrum lucidum ait, the whole grass of swertia mileensis t.n.he et w.l.shi, s. mussotii franch, the leaves and roots of astrantia major, the root bark and stem bark of aralia chinensis, the roots of hemsleya macrosperma c.y.wu , the roots of hemsleya amabilis diels, and the roots of hemsleya chinensis cogn. There is a long history in the herb and fruit which contain oleanolic acid. They play an important role in the treatment of various diseases. Oleanolic acid may be the most effective component in various Chinese medicines.

HistoryThe chemical formula was first identified in 1918. In 1960, Khastgir purified the compound for the first time. Corey identified the structure of oleanolic acid in 1993.Now the compound has been made into a drug and is being marketed in China. As early as 2002, the tablet form of oleanolic acid was listed. In 2010, capsule preparations came into the market, and to date, there is no other listed preparation. Sanofi treated it as antiulcer and NSAIDs candidate in abroad.Although it has anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer effects, Sanofi stopped the study of developing oleanolic acid into a drug in 1989.