Citations 2
Dietary supplementation with ursolic acid preserves skeletal muscle mass and strength in mouse models of cancer cachexia
Ducharme, Jeremy B. , Ebert, Scott M. , Cameron, Miles E. , Schonk, Martin M. , Callaway, Chandler S. , Talley, John J., Judge, Sarah M. , Adams, Christopher M., Judge, Andrew R. , Ebert, Scott M. , D'Lugos, Andrew C , Judge, Sarah M , Adams, Christopher M , Judge, Andrew R , D’Lugos, Andrew C. , Adams, Christopher M.
American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology | May 12, 2026 | Volume: 330 | Issue: 6 | Pages: C1800-C1811
Cancer-induced muscle wasting affects many people with cancer, reducing treatment tolerance and survival. We identified a natural dietary compound, ursolic acid, that attenuates muscle atrophy across five preclinical cancer models spanning pancreatic, colon, and lung cancer. Ursolic acid inhibits cancer-induced changes in muscle mRNA expression, preserves muscle strength, and remains protective during chemotherapy, without affecting food intake or tumor burden. These results identify ursolic acid as a promising, translatable dietary supplement for supportive cancer care.
Ursolic Acid Induces Beneficial Changes in Skeletal Muscle mRNA Expression and Increases Exercise Participation and Performance in Dogs with Age-Related Muscle Atrophy
Schreiber, Paul, Lopez, Jaime G , Taylor, Alan T., Judge, Andrew R. , Judge, Sarah M. , Rasmussen, Blake B. , Talley, John J., Rème, Christophe A., Adams, Christopher M. , Nicolas, Celine S , Judge, Andrew R , Rasmussen, Blake B , Adams, Christopher M , Judge, Sarah M , Ebert, Scott M. , Schreiber, Paul, Taylor, Alan T.
Animals | January 8, 2024 | Volume: 14 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 186
Muscle atrophy and weakness are prevalent and debilitating conditions in dogs that cannot be reliably prevented or treated by current approaches. In non-canine species, the natural dietary compound ursolic acid inhibits molecular mechanisms of muscle atrophy, leading to improvements in muscle health. To begin to translate ursolic acid to canine health, we developed a novel ursolic acid dietary supplement for dogs and confirmed its safety and tolerability in dogs. We then conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept efficacy study in older beagles with age-related muscle atrophy, also known as sarcopenia. Animals received placebo or ursolic acid dietary supplements once a day for 60 days. To assess the study’s primary outcome, we biopsied the quadriceps muscle and quantified atrophy-associated mRNA expression. Additionally, to determine whether the molecular effects of ursolic acid might have functional correlates consistent with improvements in muscle health, we assessed secondary outcomes of exercise participation and T-maze performance. Importantly, in canine skeletal muscle, ursolic acid inhibited numerous mRNA expression changes that are known to promote muscle atrophy and weakness. Furthermore, ursolic acid significantly improved exercise participation and T-maze performance. These findings identify ursolic acid as a natural dietary compound that inhibits molecular mechanisms of muscle atrophy and improves functional performance in dogs.