Therapeutic potential of ursolic acid (UA) and their derivatives with nanoformulations to combat nosocomial pathogens

Abstract Background Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpene derived from fruit, herbs, and other plants of the terpenoid category. UA has multi-dynamic antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. However, its poor water solubility, low intestinal mucosal absorption, and low bioavailability restrict its clinical application. Nanotechnology can overcome these deficiencies with various nanoformulations: nanoemulsion, nanoparticles, nanoemulgels, liposomes, and supramolecular gel. UA and its derivatives are used as therapeutic agents and have immunomodulatory functions. The main body of abstract Nanoformulations are popularly known as a promising delivery system for several drugs to increase their therapeutic efficacy. UA can act on many cellular targets such as bacterial cell envelop, efflux pump, enzymatic inhibition, and other microbial (fungal and virus) virulence factors, demonstrating that it can be a potential biomedicinal agent for antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity. Various nanoformulations of UA have been reported to decrease the MIC of the available drugs against various nosocomial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Short conclusion This review highlights several traditional and modern UA extraction and purification techniques. This also focuses on the therapeutic and pharmaceutical uses of the UA and its derivatives to treat different types of nosocomial infections. Further, UA’s comprehensive molecular mechanism of antimicrobial activity has been discussed.