Oleanolic acid is an acid found in garlic, rosemary, and many other plants.
Links to Plants Containing Oleanolic Acid
RESEARCH
The listings of research below represents a compilation of scientific articles found on the topic, with a very brief overview description of each article/study. This compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use of any herb listed.
GENERAL
- Oleanolic acid found in rosemary showed antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-tumor activities in this review of research. From: de Oliveira, J. R., Camargo, S. E. A., & de Oliveira, L. D. (2019). Rosmarinus officinalis L.(rosemary) as therapeutic and prophylactic agent. Journal of Biomedical Science, 26(1), 5.
HEPATOPROTECTIVE
- Both oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were hepatoprotective in laboratory animals. They also showed anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, and antitumor effects. From: Liu, J. (1995). Pharmacology of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 49(2), 57-68.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
- Rosemary extract, its waste product, as well as its constituents of tritepenes, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and micromeric acid all showed anti-inflammatory activity. From: Altinier, G., Sosa, S., Aquino, R. P., Mencherini, T., Loggia, R. D., & Tubaro, A. (2007). Characterization of topical antiinflammatory compounds in Rosmarinus officinalis L. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 55(5), 1718-1723.
ANTI-ARTHRITIS
- A product with hops, rosemary, and oleanolic acid reduced pain in arthritis subjects. From: Lukaczer, D., Darland, G., Tripp, M., Liska, D. A., Lerman, R. H., Schiltz, B., & Bland, J. S. (2005). A Pilot trial evaluating meta050, a proprietary combination of reduced iso‐alpha acids, rosemary extract and oleanolic acid in patients with arthritis and fibromyalgia. Phytotherapy Research, 19(10), 864-869.
- A formula of from hops, rosemary, and oleanolic acid reduced pain of osteoarthritis. From: Minich, D. M., Bland, J. S., Katke, J., Darland, G., Hall, A., Lerman, R. H., … & Tripp, M. (2007). Clinical safety and efficacy of NG440: a novel combination of rho iso-alpha acids from hops, rosemary, and oleanolic acid for inflammatory conditions This article is one of a selection of papers published in this special issue (part 1 of 2) on the Safety and Efficacy of Natural Health Products. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology, 85(9), 872-883.
ANTI-CANCER
- Triterpenoids of Styrax tonkinensis inhibited human leukemia cell growth and oleanolic acid was the most effective antiproliferative agent. From: Wang, F., Hua, H., Pei, Y., Chen, D., & Jing, Y. (2006). Triterpenoids from the Resin of Styrax tonkinensis and Their Antiproliferative and Differentiation Effects in Human Leukemia HL-60 Cells. Journal of natural products, 69(5), 807-810.
CARDIAC HEATLH
- Olive leaves from Africa showed antihypertensive, diuretic, antiatherosclerotic, antioxidant and hypoglycemic effects in tested animals related to oleanolic and ursolic acid. From: Somova, L. I., Shode, F. O., Ramnanan, P., & Nadar, A. (2003). Antihypertensive, antiatherosclerotic and antioxidant activity of triterpenoids isolated from Olea europaea, subspecies africana leaves. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 84(2), 299-305.
ANTI-DIABETIC
- The study shows that both oleuropein and oleanolic acid are involved in the anti-diabetic effect of olive leaves. From: Sato, H., Genet, C., Strehle, A., Thomas, C., Lobstein, A., Wagner, A., … & Saladin, R. (2007). Anti-hyperglycemic activity of a TGR5 agonist isolated from Olea europaea. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 362(4), 793-798.
Compiled by: Kathy Sadowski
Updated: 1/11/19
