Skeletal muscle plays a central role in metabolic function, regulating glucose uptake, lipid metabolism, and overall energy balance[1]. As global populations continue to age and longevity becomes an increasingly shared priority, preserving muscle mass has emerged as a critical health imperative. After the age of 50, muscle mass declines at a rate of 1–2% per year, and an estimated 5–13% of adults between the ages of 60 and 70 are affected by sarcopenia[2]. This age-related muscle loss compromises mobility, quality of life, and functional independence[3], while also contributing to reduced metabolic resilience with aging. Given these challenges, the elderly nutrition market focused on mitigating muscle loss is expanding rapidly, with consumers increasingly turning to natural and novel ingredients as preferred solutions.

📌Quick Overview: Why Ursolic Acid for Muscle Health?

Science of Ursolic Acid :Moving Beyond Traditional Protein 

Conventional ingredients for muscle health, such as protein and creatine, are limited in their ability to modulate the intracellular signaling pathways for muscle adaptation[4]. This creates a critical need for mechanism-driven solutions. So, consumers are seeking natural, safe, and effective alternatives to synthetic anabolic agents. 

Ursolic acid (UA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid widely distributed across a diverse range of plant sources. It is found abundantly in the peels of apples, as well as in rosemary, basil, thyme, sage, blueberries, cranberries, and guava, among others[5]. Long recognized in traditional herbal medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, ursolic acid has in recent years attracted substantial scientific interest for its multi-target bioactivity; spanning anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, hepatoprotective, and notably, muscle anabolic effects. Collectively, this body of evidence positions ursolic acid as one of the promising bioactive compounds in the field of muscle and metabolic health. 

Preclinical Evidence Supporting Ursolic acid

The functionality and mechanism of ursolic acid, have been extensively investigated through systematically designed experiments. Recognized for its novelty and efficacy, ursolic acid has even secured a global patent. Here, we introduce the journey of discovering this remarkable compound.

Research has shown that ursolic acid influences several of the body’s most important anabolic signaling pathways. In a landmark study, the research team employed a multi-step, precise experimental design to find a natural compound that inhibits muscle atrophy and increases muscle mass. The key experimental process is divided into three main stages: mRNA identification, candidate discovery via the Connectivity Map, and efficacy validation using animal models[6].

[1]  Wolfe RR., Am J Clin Nutr., 2006  [2] von Haehling et al., Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 2010 [3] Cruz-Jentoft AJ et al., Age Ageing., 2010 [4] Phillips SM., Sports Med., 2014 [5] Rathor, R et al. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2021 [6] Kunkel SD et al., Cell Metabolism., 2011 

• Figure 1. 3-Stage Research Process of Ursolic acid

① Identification of Muscle Atrophy-Related mRNA

Seven healthy adults were subjected to a 40-hour fast, after which RNA was extracted and analyzed via thigh muscle biopsies. This process identified 558 mRNAs that showed altered expression levels before and after fasting.

By identifying 63 mRNAs that commonly change during fasting in both humans and mice, the team established a biologically conserved "muscle atrophy signature."

Additionally, by combining data from patients suffering from muscle atrophy due to spinal cord injury (SCI) with the fasting data, they created another signature comprising 29 common mRNAs.

② Substance Exploration via the Connectivity Map (CMap)

The CMap database was utilized to identify drugs capable of reversing the discovered "muscle atrophy gene patterns." The muscle atrophy mRNA signatures were cross-referenced with CMap, which records the effects of over 1,300 small-molecule compounds on cellular genes. The results revealed that ursolic acid, a compound abundant in apple peels, was the only common candidate selected in two independent queries for exerting the exact opposite effect on the gene changes that cause muscle atrophy.

③ Efficacy and Mechanism Validation Using Animal Models

Various mouse experiments were conducted to confirm the actual effects of the selected ursolic acid.

1) Muscle loss was significantly inhibited in mice with induced muscle atrophy (via fasting or nerve denervation) following the administration of ursolic acid.

2) When normal mice without any muscle atrophy factors were fed a diet containing ursolic acid for 5 weeks, their muscle fiber size increased, and their grip strength was significantly enhanced.

3) It was revealed that ursolic acid enhances insulin/IGF-1 signaling in the muscles of mice and suppresses the expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF1, which are key genes involved in muscle breakdown.

Through this step-by-step and systematic experimental design, the research team demonstrated that ursolic acid is an effective natural compound with the potential to mitigate muscle atrophy and increase muscle mass.

Body Recomposition and Metabolic Benefits of Ursolic acid

One of the most intriguing findings of ursolic acid research is its apparent ability to support body recomposition by promoting muscle growth while reducing fat accumulation simultaneously. After confirming in previous studies, the research team aimed to verify whether it could suppress obesity, glucose intolerance, and fatty liver through the activation of Akt in muscles using a high-fat diet-induced obesity model[7].

Figure 2. Metabolic benefits of Ursolic acid

① Increase in Muscle Mass and Strength

Muscle mass significantly increased in mice that consumed a high-fat diet simultaneously with ursolic acid. Both fast and slow muscle fibers increased in size, and actual grip strength and treadmill endurance were enhanced. As revealed in previous studies, this is because ursolic acid aids in the phosphorylation of the Akt protein in muscles, promotes IGF-1 signaling, and suppresses muscle atrophy genes.

② Obesity Suppression and Metabolic Improvement

The group administered with ursolic acid showed less weight gain and a decrease in body fat mass compared to the control group. Furthermore, insulin resistance decreased, glucose tolerance improved, and triglyceride accumulation in the liver was significantly reduced, demonstrating a preventive effect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

③ Increase in Brown Fat

One of the most interesting findings in this study is that ursolic acid increased the amount of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Unlike white fat, which stores energy, brown fat burns energy to generate heat. Ursolic acid increased energy expenditure by upregulating the expression of UCP1 (a thermogenic protein) within brown fat

The experiment proved that ursolic acid goes beyond merely building muscle; it elevates overall energy metabolism by simultaneously increasing both muscle and brown fat mass. As a result, ursolic acid demonstrated effect against the development of obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver, even when subjected to a high-fat diet.

Leanepic™: A Differentiated Nutritional Ingredient Platform 

The future of muscle health supplementation is moving beyond basic nutrition towards targeted biological optimization. Leanepic™, a natural plant-based ingredient extracted from rosemary leaves, is a differentiated nutritional ingredient platform that perfectly aligns with these global consumer demands.

❓FAQ: What makes Leanepic™ a premium ingredient for global B2B formulations?

Answer: Leanepic™ is strictly standardized to a high concentration of 50% Ursolic Acid, ensuring consistent biological activity. It is backed by robust preclinical evidence, holds an FDA NDI notification, and is manufactured under exclusive global patents.

Key Applications & Market Solutions:

• Sports Nutrition: Supporting high-intensity performance and muscle recovery.
• Healthy Aging: Mitigating sarcopenia and preserving muscle mass in the elderly.
• Weight Management: Promoting body recomposition (muscle gain and fat loss).
• Functional Foods & Beverages: Easily integrated into everyday consumer delivery formats.

CJ BIO of CJ CheilJedang is the worldwide exclusive supplier of Leanepic™ based on proprietary patents[9]. The company is currently embarking on a clinical validation program to test the scientific efficacy of this unique form of ursolic acid in healthy human volunteers, paving the way for widespread use in dietary supplements and functional foods.

Please contact your local sales representative for more details.

References

1. Wolfe, R. R. (2006). The underappreciated role of muscle in health and disease. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 84(3), 475-482.
2. von Haehling, S., Morley, J. E., & Anker, S. D. (2010). An overview of sarcopenia: facts and numbers on prevalence and clinical impact. Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 1(2), 129-133.
3. Cruz-Jentoft, A. J., Baeyens, J. P., Bauer, J. M., Boirie, Y., Cederholm, T., Landi, F., ... & Zamboni, M. (2010). Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: Report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Age and ageing, 39(4), 412-423.
4. Phillips, S. M. (2014). A brief review of critical processes in exercise-induced muscular hypertrophy. Sports Medicine, 44(Suppl 1), 71-77.
5. Rathor, R., Suryakumar, G., & Singh, S. N. (2021). Diet and redox state in maintaining skeletal muscle health and performance at high altitude. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 174, 305-320.
6. Kunkel, S. D., Suneja, M., Ebert, S. M., Bongers, K. S., Fox, D. K., Malmberg, S. E., ... & Adams, C. M. (2011). mRNA expression signatures of human skeletal muscle atrophy identify a natural compound that increases muscle mass. Cell metabolism, 13(6), 627-638.
7. Kunkel, S. D., Elmore, C. J., Bongers, K. S., Ebert, S. M., Fox, D. K., Dyle, M. C., ... & Adams, C. M. (2012). Ursolic acid increases skeletal muscle and brown fat and decreases diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance and fatty liver disease. PloS one, 7(6), e39332.
8. CJ Cheiljedang. (2025). Leanepic Rosemary Concentrate Containing 50 Ursolic Acid. FDA-2025-S-0023-0060. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FDA-2025-S-0023-0060
9. Adams, C. M., Kunkel, S. D., & Welsh, M. (2020). Methods for inhibiting muscle atrophy (U.S. Patent No.10668087B2). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FDA-2025-S-0023-0060

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.