Legal status · Canada
Is Ursolic acid legal in Canada?
Written by Aaron CuhaReviewed Sep 2026
Direct answer
Ursolic acid can be sold in Canada as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a supplement". That is not drug approval: Health Canada 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 Canada at a glance
| Classification | Sold as a supplement |
|---|---|
| Health Canada approval status | Not a Health Canada 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 Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch (Health Canada) listings at the reviewed date.
What this means
- 01
Ursolic acid can be sold in Canada as a supplement, food or cosmetic ingredient under the classification above, without drug approval.
- 02
Supplement status means Health Canada 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 Health Canada treats this kind of product
Authorises drugs for sale through a Notice of Compliance and Drug Identification Number. A compound that is not authorised for sale cannot lawfully be sold for human use, and personal importation of prescription drugs is limited.
The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch 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 Canada?
Ursolic acid can be sold in Canada as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a supplement". That is not drug approval: Health Canada 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 Canada?
Yes, in supplement or cosmetic form. In Canada Ursolic acid is classified as "Sold as a supplement", 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 Health Canada approved?
No. In Canada Ursolic acid is classified as "Sold as a supplement", which is not a Health Canada 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 Canada
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 Canada, current as of Sep 2026. It is not legal advice, and classifications change; check Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch 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.