Synthesis and evaluation of the HIF-1α inhibitory activities of novel ursolic acid tetrazole derivatives.

•Eight series of ursolic acid-tetrazole derivatives were designed and synthesized.•The inhibitory activity on HIF-1α pathway and cytotoxicity of these compounds were evaluated.•Compound 14a is a promising lead for searching effective HIF-1α inhibitors.•The investigation of dose-dependently inhibiting the luciferase activity in Hep3B cells of compound 14a was performed.