A pentacyclic triterpenoid that is ursane substituted by a carboxy group at position 28 and hydroxy groups at positions 2, 3 and 23 (the 2α,3β stereoisomer). It is isolated from Symplocos lancifolia and Vateria indica and exhibits anti-angiogenic activity.

Asiatic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene contained in medicinal plants, can be used as an agent for increasing sensitivity of colon cancer cells to treatment with CPT-11 or as an agent for reducing adverse effects of CPT-11.[1]
Asiatic acid has been reported to induce apoptosis of various human cancer cells, it may exert anti-tumorigenesis through inhibitory actions in NO and COX-2 signals.[2]
Asiatic acid ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced murine experimental colitis via suppressing mitochondria-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation, its potential usage in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.[3]
Asiatic acid shows antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity in diabetic rats.[4]
Asiatic acid (AA) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, it inhibits LPS-induced ALI in mice by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine production, which is mediated via blocking of the TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathway.[5]
Asiatic acid can inhibit cell proliferation through regulating the expression of focal adhesion kinase in multiple myeloma cells.[6]

English website: Asiatic acid
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Chinese website: Asiatic acid

[1] Bunpo P, Kataoka K, Arimochi H, et al. J Med Invest, 2005, 52(1-2):65-73.
[2]Park B C, Paek S H, Lee Y S, et al. Biol Pharm Bul, 2007, 30(1):176-9.
[3] Guo W, Liu W, Jin B, et al. Int Immunopharmacol, 2015, 24(2):232-8.
[4] Ramachandran V, Saravanan R, Senthilraja P. Phytomed IntJ Phytothery Phytopharmacol, 2014, 21(3):225-32.
[5] Zhiling Li, Xianzhong Xiao, Mingshi Yang. Inflammation, 2016:1-7.
[6] Zhang J, Ai L, Lv T, et al. Oncol Lett, 2013, 6(6):1762-6.
[7] Tiwari R K, Chanda S, Deepak M, et al. J Chem Pharm Res, 2010(3):223-9.