Ursolic Acid
Ursolic acid is a triterpene compound found in the waxy peel of apples and in herbs such as rosemary.
Also listed as Apple peel extract
What it is studied for
The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.
Can ursolic acid help build muscle?
A controlled trial offers a useful reality check: 22 active young men combined resistance training with a high-protein diet for eight weeks. Adding 400 mg ursolic acid daily did not increase muscle mass or strength beyond placebo. The finding applies to those conditions, rather than ruling out every possible use. 1
Why people take it
SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.
Questions people ask
Did the muscle trial show that training failed?
No. Muscle and strength improved with training in both groups; ursolic acid did not add a detectable benefit. 1
Is there a proven weight-loss dose?
The pooled studies did not show a significant weight benefit across the tested doses. They do not establish an effective weight-loss dose. 2
Do the brain findings apply to people?
The promising findings described in the Foundation’s review came from preclinical models, not established human cognitive benefits. 3
Sources
- Ursolic Acid Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, 2020