Ursolic acid: A versatile triterpenoid compound in regulating the aging

We and other studies have elucidated single molecules that can attenuate aging and extend longevity. indeed,these molecules could prevent age-associated diseases simultaneously and probably extending healthy-life spans. in this review,we discuss recent advances,controversies,opportunities and challenges surrounding ursolic acid (ua) in relationship with aging. in this regard,ua also known as urson,prunol,micromerol and malol is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound which naturally occurs in a large number of vegetarian foods,medicinal herbs and other plants,including apples and rosemary. our previous studies for the first time evaluated anti-aging effects of ua. these studies indicated that ua through overexpression of anti-aging biomarkers such as sirtuin (sirt) 1,sirt6 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha/beta (pgc-1α/β). klotho and orexin-a in the brain,skeletal muscle,liver and kidney ameliorates aging and thereby conferring broad health benefits in rodents,primates and possibly human. taken together,our recent findings advantageously described that ua mimics short-term caloric restriction,exercise and has a potential therapy for age-related diseases. finally,the prospects for drugs that can deliver at least a subset of the benefits of caloric restriction seems very real. © 2017,iranian society of physiology and pharmacology. all rights reserved.