Legal status · Australia
Is Ursolic acid legal in Australia?
Written by Aaron CuhaReviewed Sep 2026
Direct answer
Ursolic acid can be sold in Australia as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Available as a supplement / complementary medicine". That is not drug approval: TGA has not evaluated any health claim, and injectable or "research use only" versions fall outside supplement rules, so that label does not make human use lawful. On the evidence, 1 human study is cited on its profile.
Ursolic acid in Australia at a glance
| Classification | Available as a supplement / complementary medicine |
|---|---|
| TGA approval status | Not a TGA drug approval; sold as a supplement or cosmetic |
| Human studies cited | 1 of 2 citations on the profile |
| Reviewed | Sep 2026 |
Classification and note come from the Ursolic acid profile, checked against Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) listings at the reviewed date.
What this means
- 01
Ursolic acid can be sold in Australia as a supplement, food or cosmetic ingredient under the classification above, without drug approval.
- 02
Supplement status means TGA has not evaluated any health claim; manufacturers are responsible for safety and labeling, and quality varies by product.
- 03
Injectable or "research use only" versions are not supplements. That label does not make human use lawful, and injectables fall under medicines rules.
What Ursolic acid is
No effect on lifespan at the dose tested in the mouse cohort where acarbose raised male median longevity by 16 to 17 percent. The entire human record is one eight-week trial in 16 men, which reported lower body fat percentage and no change in lean body mass.
Ursolic acid is a triterpenoid found in apple peel, rosemary and holy basil, and it is sold almost entirely on the strength of one line of mouse work from a single laboratory reporting that it induced muscle hypertrophy and reduced muscle atrophy. The Interventions Testing Program tested it in the cohort built around the acarbose dose-response study.
Mechanism: A pentacyclic triterpenoid. The muscle hypothesis rests on work reporting that it enhances skeletal muscle insulin and IGF-1 receptor signalling and reduces expression of the atrophy-associated ubiquitin ligases atrogin-1 and MuRF1, shifting the balance between protein synthesis and degradation.
Regulatory history: Sold as a dietary supplement. Not an approved drug and not approved to prevent or treat anything.
How TGA treats this kind of product
Registers or lists therapeutic goods on the ARTG and schedules substances in the Poisons Standard. Many peptides are Schedule 4 (prescription only), so possession without a prescription and personal importation are restricted even when no product is registered.
The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of Therapeutic Goods Administration listings for Ursolic acid at the reviewed date, not a legal opinion. Rules change, and importing, prescribing and possessing a compound can each be treated differently. Check the regulator directly before acting on anything here.
Ursolic acid in other countries
Frequently asked questions
Is Ursolic acid legal in Australia?
Ursolic acid can be sold in Australia as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Available as a supplement / complementary medicine". That is not drug approval: TGA has not evaluated any health claim, and injectable or "research use only" versions fall outside supplement rules, so that label does not make human use lawful. On the evidence, 1 human study is cited on its profile.
Can I buy Ursolic acid in Australia?
Yes, in supplement or cosmetic form. In Australia Ursolic acid is classified as "Available as a supplement / complementary medicine", so oral, topical or cosmetic products can be sold under supplement rules. Injectable versions and products labeled "research use only" are not supplements and are not approved for human use.
Is Ursolic acid TGA approved?
No. In Australia Ursolic acid is classified as "Available as a supplement / complementary medicine", which is not a TGA marketing approval. For comparison, the US FDA status is: Sold as a dietary supplement. Not an approved drug and not approved to prevent or treat anything.. On the evidence, 1 human study is cited on its profile.
Related compounds in Australia
Full research profile
Mechanism, cited studies, FDA status and the full legal summary for Ursolic acid live on its compound profile.
Ursolic acid profileThis page is general information about the regulatory status of Ursolic acid in Australia, current as of Sep 2026. It is not legal advice, and classifications change; check Therapeutic Goods Administration directly or consult a lawyer for a specific situation. Educational use only. This database summarizes published research. It is not medical advice and contains no dosing protocols or recommendations for personal use. The Longevity Archive has no vendor relationships and does not recommend where to buy anything.