Research Article

Comparative Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid Reveals Pathway-Selective Anticancer Effects in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

Number: 11 August 7, 2026
EN

Comparative Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid Reveals Pathway-Selective Anticancer Effects in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

Abstract

Cancer continues to impose a major global health burden, largely driven by the aberrant regulation of cell growth and survival pathways. This has prompted sustained investigations into bioactive compounds of natural origin. This study presents a comparative evaluation of oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells using integrated experimental and computational approaches. Cell viability assays revealed concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects for both compounds. Gene expression analyses demonstratedcoordinated modulation of pathways related to apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, oncogenic signaling, and inflammation. OA showed stronger modulation of apoptosis-related and proliferation-associated gene expression patterns, including increased expression of caspase-related transcripts and downregulation of KRAS and C-MYC. In contrast, UA preferentially influenced tumor suppressor and stress-response signaling, with notable increased in p53 and PTEN expression. p53- mediated transcriptional activation was further supported by a luciferase reporter assay in HEK293 cells, which demonstrated higher transcriptional activity following UA treatment compared to OA. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations provided complementary insights, suggesting preferential interactions of OA with KRAS and UA with MDM2. Overall, these findings highlight structure–function relationships underlying pathway-selective anticancer mechanisms of pentacyclic triterpenoids.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study did not involve human participants or animal experiments. Therefore, ethical approval was not required.

Thanks

The author would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halil Şenol for his help with the molecular docking and dynamics studies.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 7, 2026

Submission Date

February 7, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 11

APA
Ozgun Acar, O. (2026). Comparative Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid Reveals Pathway-Selective Anticancer Effects in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells. International Journal of Chemistry and Technology, 11, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.32571/ijct.1883946
AMA
1.Ozgun Acar O. Comparative Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid Reveals Pathway-Selective Anticancer Effects in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells. Int. J. Chem. Technol. 2026;(11):1-16. doi:10.32571/ijct.1883946
Chicago
Ozgun Acar, Ozden. 2026. “Comparative Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid Reveals Pathway-Selective Anticancer Effects in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells”. International Journal of Chemistry and Technology, nos. 11: 1-16. https://doi.org/10.32571/ijct.1883946.
EndNote
Ozgun Acar O (August 1, 2026) Comparative Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid Reveals Pathway-Selective Anticancer Effects in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells. International Journal of Chemistry and Technology 11 1–16.
IEEE
[1]O. Ozgun Acar, “Comparative Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid Reveals Pathway-Selective Anticancer Effects in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells”, Int. J. Chem. Technol., no. 11, pp. 1–16, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.32571/ijct.1883946.
ISNAD
Ozgun Acar, Ozden. “Comparative Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid Reveals Pathway-Selective Anticancer Effects in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells”. International Journal of Chemistry and Technology. 11 (August 1, 2026): 1-16. https://doi.org/10.32571/ijct.1883946.
JAMA
1.Ozgun Acar O. Comparative Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid Reveals Pathway-Selective Anticancer Effects in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells. Int. J. Chem. Technol. 2026;:1–16.
MLA
Ozgun Acar, Ozden. “Comparative Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid Reveals Pathway-Selective Anticancer Effects in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells”. International Journal of Chemistry and Technology, no. 11, Aug. 2026, pp. 1-16, doi:10.32571/ijct.1883946.
Vancouver
1.Ozden Ozgun Acar. Comparative Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid Reveals Pathway-Selective Anticancer Effects in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells. Int. J. Chem. Technol. 2026 Aug. 1;(11):1-16. doi:10.32571/ijct.1883946