Urolithin A: Biosynthesis at a Glance and Biological Properties Supported by Recent Preclinical and Clinical Evidence
- 1Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
- 2Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, Italy
Abstract
Urolithin A (Uro A) is a natural bioactive compound biosynthesized by the gut microbiota after the ingestion of foods that are rich in ellagic acid and ellagitannins, such as strawberries, pomegranate, raspberries and walnuts. Uro A is studied in preclinical and clinical studies for its numerous biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties, while also possessing a therapeutic potential against metabolic syndrome and mitochondrial-enhancing effects. This narrative review briefly outlines the biosynthesis of Uro A and current evidence on its biological properties and its potential role in mitigating diseases, on the basis of literature searches performed on Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed/MEDLINE. In addition, recent clinical trials based on the supplementation with Uro A are summarized herein.
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BibTeX
@article{tenuta2026urolithin,
title = {{Urolithin A: Biosynthesis at a Glance and Biological Properties Supported by Recent Preclinical and Clinical Evidence}},
author = {Anna Chiara Tenuta and Domenico Iacopetta and Alessia Catalano and Francesca Aiello and Jessica Ceramella and Eva Scarcelli and Francesca Luisa Conforti and Daniela Bonofiglio and Maria Stefania Sinicropi},
journal = {Molecules},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31213982},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3982},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Urolithin A: Biosynthesis at a Glance and Biological Properties Supported by Recent Preclinical and Clinical Evidence
AU - Anna Chiara Tenuta
AU - Domenico Iacopetta
AU - Alessia Catalano
AU - Francesca Aiello
AU - Jessica Ceramella
AU - Eva Scarcelli
AU - Francesca Luisa Conforti
AU - Daniela Bonofiglio
AU - Maria Stefania Sinicropi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Molecules
DO - 10.3390/molecules31213982
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3982
AB - Urolithin A (Uro A) is a natural bioactive compound biosynthesized by the gut microbiota after the ingestion of foods that are rich in ellagic acid and ellagitannins, such as strawberries, pomegranate, raspberries and walnuts. Uro A is studied in preclinical and clinical studies for its numerous biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties, while also possessing a therapeutic potential against metabolic syndrome and mitochondrial-enhancing effects. This narrative review briefly outlines the biosynthesis of Uro A and current evidence on its biological properties and its potential role in mitigating diseases, on the basis of literature searches performed on Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed/MEDLINE. In addition, recent clinical trials based on the supplementation with Uro A are summarized herein.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -