Page last updated: 2024-12-08

(-)-usnic acid

Description Research Excerpts Clinical Trials Roles Classes Pathways Study Profile Bioassays Related Drugs Related Conditions Protein Interactions Research Growth Market Indicators

Description

## (-)-Usnic Acid: A Natural Antibiotic with Diverse Potential

(-)-Usnic acid is a natural compound found in various lichens, particularly the genus Usnea. It's a bright yellow, crystalline substance with a distinctive bitter taste. While its exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, (-)-usnic acid is known to exhibit several interesting properties, making it a promising area of research:

**1. Antibiotic Activity:**

* (-)-Usnic acid has been shown to inhibit the growth of a wide range of bacteria, including those resistant to conventional antibiotics.
* This makes it a potential candidate for treating infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria, a growing global health concern.

**2. Anti-Inflammatory Properties:**

* Studies have indicated that (-)-usnic acid can reduce inflammation by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
* This suggests its potential use in treating inflammatory diseases like arthritis and skin conditions.

**3. Antioxidant Activity:**

* (-)-Usnic acid is a potent antioxidant, capable of scavenging free radicals and protecting cells from damage.
* This property makes it potentially useful for preventing and treating diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

**4. Antifungal Activity:**

* Research has demonstrated that (-)-usnic acid has antifungal activity against various pathogenic fungi, including those responsible for skin infections and plant diseases.

**5. Anticancer Properties:**

* In laboratory studies, (-)-usnic acid has shown potential anticancer effects by inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells.
* Further research is necessary to investigate its efficacy and safety for cancer treatment in humans.

**Research Significance:**

* (-)-Usnic acid's diverse biological activities make it a valuable subject of research.
* Scientists are exploring its potential as a novel therapeutic agent for treating various infections, inflammatory diseases, and even cancer.
* Studies are ongoing to determine the optimal dosages and delivery methods for maximizing its therapeutic benefits while minimizing potential side effects.

**It's important to note that despite its promising potential, (-)-usnic acid is still under investigation, and its safety and efficacy for human use need further research.** Its use should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.

(-)-usnic acid : The (-)-enantiomer of usnic acid. [Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]

Cross-References

ID SourceID
PubMed CID442614
CHEMBL ID461903
CHEMBL ID1454474
CHEBI ID122
SCHEMBL ID10076307
SCHEMBL ID14029477

Synonyms (46)

Synonym
(+)-usniacin
(9bs)-2,6-diacetyl-3,7,9-trihydroxy-8,9b-dimethyldibenzo[b,d]furan-1(9bh)-one
CHEBI:122 ,
NCGC00017388-01
tnp00338
SMP1_000308
(s)-usnic acid
(-)-usnic acid
NCGC00142542-02
NCGC00142542-01
LMPK13060002
CHEMBL461903
(9bs)-2,6-diacetyl-3,7,9-trihydroxy-8,9b-dimethyldibenzofuran-1-one
NCGC00017388-03
NCGC00017388-02
(9ar)-4,8-diacetyl-1,3,9-trihydroxy-2,9a-dimethyl-7-oxo-9a-hydrobenzo[2,1-d]be nzo[b]furan
STK523900
(9br)-2,6-diacetyl-1,7,9-trihydroxy-8,9b-dimethyldibenzo[b,d]furan-3(9bh)-one
AKOS005174867
S2252
CCG-208150
CCG-208515
(s)-(-)-usnic acid
1(9bh)-dibenzofuranone, 2,6-diacetyl-3,7,9-trihydroxy-8,9b-dimethyl-, (s)-
usnic acid, (s)-
1(9bh)-dibenzofuranone, 2,6-diacetyl-3,7,9-trihydroxy-8,9b-dimethyl-, (9bs)-
usnic acid, l-
SCHEMBL10076307
(2r)-4,10-diacetyl-3,11,13-trihydroxy-2,12-dimethyl-8-oxatricyclo[7.4.0.0^{2,7}]trideca-1(13),3,6,9,11-pentaen-5-one
MLS006011829
smr003325592
CHEMBL1454474
SCHEMBL14029477
mfcd00016878
HMS3655H16
NCGC00017388-05
SW219509-1
(+)-usniacin (d-usnic acid)
Q27105250
DTXSID001019955
(r)-1,1'-(1,7,9-trihydroxy-8,9b-dimethyl-3-oxo-3,9b-dihydrodibenzo[b,d]furan-2,6-diyl)diethanone
usnicacid
DTXSID40977181
882883-26-3
bdbm50232841
NCGC00017388-08

Research Excerpts

Bioavailability

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"The ATP-binding cassette transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is known to limit both brain penetration and oral bioavailability of many chemotherapy drugs."( A High-Throughput Screen of a Library of Therapeutics Identifies Cytotoxic Substrates of P-glycoprotein.
Ambudkar, SV; Brimacombe, KR; Chen, L; Gottesman, MM; Guha, R; Hall, MD; Klumpp-Thomas, C; Lee, OW; Lee, TD; Lusvarghi, S; Robey, RW; Shen, M; Tebase, BG, 2019
)
0.51
[information is derived through text-mining from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Roles (1)

RoleDescription
EC 1.13.11.27 (4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase) inhibitorAn EC 1.13.11.* (oxidoreductase acting on single donors and incorporating 2 atoms of oxygen) inhibitor that interferes with the activity of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.27).
[role information is derived from Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]

Drug Classes (1)

ClassDescription
usnic acidA member of the class of dibenzofurans that is dibenzo[b,d]furan-1(9bH)-one substituted by acetyl groups at positions 2 and 6, hydroxy groups at positions 3 and 7 and methyl groups at positions 8 and 9b.
[compound class information is derived from Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]

Protein Targets (25)

Potency Measurements

ProteinTaxonomyMeasurementAverage (µ)Min (ref.)Avg (ref.)Max (ref.)Bioassay(s)
Chain A, TYROSYL-DNA PHOSPHODIESTERASEHomo sapiens (human)Potency28.18380.004023.8416100.0000AID485290
Chain A, Breast cancer type 1 susceptibility proteinHomo sapiens (human)Potency50.11871.258920.440939.8107AID875
15-lipoxygenase, partialHomo sapiens (human)Potency12.58930.012610.691788.5700AID887
aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family, member A1Homo sapiens (human)Potency12.58930.011212.4002100.0000AID1030
cytochrome P450 2C9 precursorHomo sapiens (human)Potency0.00630.00636.904339.8107AID883
cytochrome P450 3A4 isoform 1Homo sapiens (human)Potency31.62280.031610.279239.8107AID884; AID885
lethal factor (plasmid)Bacillus anthracis str. A2012Potency31.62280.020010.786931.6228AID912
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit piRattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit beta-1Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit deltaRattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit gamma-2Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-5Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-3Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit gamma-1Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-2Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-4Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit gamma-3Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-6Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Histamine H2 receptorCavia porcellus (domestic guinea pig)Potency0.00630.00638.235039.8107AID883
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-1Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit beta-3Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit beta-2Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
GABA theta subunitRattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit epsilonRattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Potency31.62281.000012.224831.6228AID885
[prepared from compound, protein, and bioassay information from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Inhibition Measurements

ProteinTaxonomyMeasurementAverageMin (ref.)Avg (ref.)Max (ref.)Bioassay(s)
Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)IC50 (µMol)100.00000.01203.32138.4300AID1431313
[prepared from compound, protein, and bioassay information from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Biological Processes (3)

Processvia Protein(s)Taxonomy
single strand break repairTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
DNA repairTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
double-strand break repairTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
[Information is prepared from geneontology information from the June-17-2024 release]

Molecular Functions (5)

Processvia Protein(s)Taxonomy
double-stranded DNA bindingTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
single-stranded DNA bindingTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
exonuclease activityTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
protein bindingTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
3'-tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase activityTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
[Information is prepared from geneontology information from the June-17-2024 release]

Ceullar Components (5)

Processvia Protein(s)Taxonomy
plasma membraneGamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit gamma-2Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)
plasma membraneGamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-1Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)
plasma membraneGamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit beta-2Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)
nucleoplasmTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
cytoplasmTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
plasma membraneTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
intracellular membrane-bounded organelleTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
nucleusTyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1Homo sapiens (human)
[Information is prepared from geneontology information from the June-17-2024 release]

Bioassays (36)

Assay IDTitleYearJournalArticle
AID1135217Solubility of the compound in ethanol at 25 degC measured per 100 ml1979Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 22, Issue:11
Usnic acid derivatives as potential antineoplastic agents.
AID1174916Selectivity index, ratio of CTD50 for MDCK cells to ED50 for Influenza A virus (A/California/07/09(H1N1)) pdm092014Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, Dec-15, Volume: 22, Issue:24
Novel derivatives of usnic acid effectively inhibiting reproduction of influenza A virus.
AID336677Antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans ATCC 10231 by agar-dilution streak method1994Journal of natural products, Jul, Volume: 57, Issue:7
Alectosarmentin, a new antimicrobial dibenzofuranoid lactol from the lichen, Alectoria sarmentosa.
AID336680Antimicrobial activity against Salmonella gallinarum ATCC 9184 at 100 ug/ml by agar-dilution streak method1994Journal of natural products, Jul, Volume: 57, Issue:7
Alectosarmentin, a new antimicrobial dibenzofuranoid lactol from the lichen, Alectoria sarmentosa.
AID1135224Antitumor activity against mouse P388 cells allografted in mouse assessed as host median survival time at 100 mg/kg/day, ip administered as gum acacia suspension on days 1 to 9 relative to control1979Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 22, Issue:11
Usnic acid derivatives as potential antineoplastic agents.
AID336678Antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 at 100 ug/ml by agar-dilution streak method1994Journal of natural products, Jul, Volume: 57, Issue:7
Alectosarmentin, a new antimicrobial dibenzofuranoid lactol from the lichen, Alectoria sarmentosa.
AID1174915Antiviral activity against rimantidine, amantidine-resistant Influenza A virus (A/California/07/09(H1N1)) pdm09 infected in MDCK cells assessed as inhibition of viral replication after 1 hrs by hemagglutination assay2014Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, Dec-15, Volume: 22, Issue:24
Novel derivatives of usnic acid effectively inhibiting reproduction of influenza A virus.
AID1135215Antineoplastic activity against mouse LCC cells allografted in mouse assessed as increase in host life span at 20 to 200 mg/kg relative to control1979Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 22, Issue:11
Usnic acid derivatives as potential antineoplastic agents.
AID343354Cytotoxicity against mouse 3LL CRL 1642 cells after 48 hrs by MTT assay2008Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, Jul-15, Volume: 16, Issue:14
Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of usnic acid derivatives.
AID1135218Octanol-water partition coefficient, log P of the compound by high-performance liquid chromatography1979Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 22, Issue:11
Usnic acid derivatives as potential antineoplastic agents.
AID336681Antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 10031 at 100 ug/ml by agar-dilution streak method1994Journal of natural products, Jul, Volume: 57, Issue:7
Alectosarmentin, a new antimicrobial dibenzofuranoid lactol from the lichen, Alectoria sarmentosa.
AID1135219Growth inhibition of mouse L1210 cells at 0.14 umol/ml after 23 to 46 hrs by coulter counter analysis1979Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 22, Issue:11
Usnic acid derivatives as potential antineoplastic agents.
AID1135216Solubility of the compound in water at 25 degC measured per 100 ml1979Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 22, Issue:11
Usnic acid derivatives as potential antineoplastic agents.
AID718709Selectivity index, ratio of CTD50 for MDCK cells to ED50 for influenza virus A/California/07/09 (H1N1) pdm092012Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, Dec-01, Volume: 22, Issue:23
Anti-viral activity of (-)- and (+)-usnic acids and their derivatives against influenza virus A(H1N1)2009.
AID1431315Cytotoxicity against human MCF7 cells over expressing TDP1 assessed as reduction in viable cells after 72 hrs by MTT assay2016Journal of natural products, 11-23, Volume: 79, Issue:11
Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 1 Inhibitors: Usnic Acid Enamines Enhance the Cytotoxic Effect of Camptothecin.
AID343357Cytotoxicity against human K562 ATCC CCL 243 cells after 72 hrs by MTT assay2008Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, Jul-15, Volume: 16, Issue:14
Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of usnic acid derivatives.
AID336676Antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC 607 by agar-dilution streak method1994Journal of natural products, Jul, Volume: 57, Issue:7
Alectosarmentin, a new antimicrobial dibenzofuranoid lactol from the lichen, Alectoria sarmentosa.
AID343356Cytotoxicity against human MCF7 ATCC HTB 22 cells after 72 hrs by MTT assay2008Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, Jul-15, Volume: 16, Issue:14
Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of usnic acid derivatives.
AID343352Cytotoxicity against CHO cells after 48 hrs by MTT assay2008Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, Jul-15, Volume: 16, Issue:14
Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of usnic acid derivatives.
AID336672Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 13709 by agar-dilution streak method1994Journal of natural products, Jul, Volume: 57, Issue:7
Alectosarmentin, a new antimicrobial dibenzofuranoid lactol from the lichen, Alectoria sarmentosa.
AID343355Cytotoxicity against human DU145 ATCC HTB 81 cells after 72 hrs by MTT assay2008Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, Jul-15, Volume: 16, Issue:14
Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of usnic acid derivatives.
AID718711Cytotoxicity against MDCK cells after 48 hrs by MTT assay2012Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, Dec-01, Volume: 22, Issue:23
Anti-viral activity of (-)- and (+)-usnic acids and their derivatives against influenza virus A(H1N1)2009.
AID1431313Inhibition of recombinant TDP1 (unknown origin) using 5'-(5,6 FAM-aac gtc agg gtc ttc c-BHQ1)-3' as substrate measured at 1 min interval by fluorimetric method2016Journal of natural products, 11-23, Volume: 79, Issue:11
Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 1 Inhibitors: Usnic Acid Enamines Enhance the Cytotoxic Effect of Camptothecin.
AID336679Antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 9637 at 100 ug/ml by agar-dilution streak method1994Journal of natural products, Jul, Volume: 57, Issue:7
Alectosarmentin, a new antimicrobial dibenzofuranoid lactol from the lichen, Alectoria sarmentosa.
AID343358Cytotoxicity against human U251 RCB 0641 cells after 72 hrs by MTT assay2008Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, Jul-15, Volume: 16, Issue:14
Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of usnic acid derivatives.
AID1174914Cytotoxicity against MDCK cells assessed reduction in cell viability after 48 hrs by MTT assay2014Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, Dec-15, Volume: 22, Issue:24
Novel derivatives of usnic acid effectively inhibiting reproduction of influenza A virus.
AID718710Antiviral activity against Influenza virus A/California/07/09 (H1N1) pdm09 infected in MDCK cells after 48 hrs followed by incubated in chicken erythrocytes for 1 hr by hemagglutinination based end-point dilution method2012Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, Dec-01, Volume: 22, Issue:23
Anti-viral activity of (-)- and (+)-usnic acids and their derivatives against influenza virus A(H1N1)2009.
AID343351Cytotoxicity against mouse L1210 ATCC CCL 219 cells after 48 hrs by MTT assay2008Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, Jul-15, Volume: 16, Issue:14
Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of usnic acid derivatives.
AID343353Cytotoxicity against polyamine transport-deficient mutant CHO cells after 48 hrs by MTT assay2008Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, Jul-15, Volume: 16, Issue:14
Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of usnic acid derivatives.
AID1296008Cytotoxic Profiling of Annotated Libraries Using Quantitative High-Throughput Screening2020SLAS discovery : advancing life sciences R & D, 01, Volume: 25, Issue:1
Cytotoxic Profiling of Annotated and Diverse Chemical Libraries Using Quantitative High-Throughput Screening.
AID1346986P-glycoprotein substrates identified in KB-3-1 adenocarcinoma cell line, qHTS therapeutic library screen2019Molecular pharmacology, 11, Volume: 96, Issue:5
A High-Throughput Screen of a Library of Therapeutics Identifies Cytotoxic Substrates of P-glycoprotein.
AID1346987P-glycoprotein substrates identified in KB-8-5-11 adenocarcinoma cell line, qHTS therapeutic library screen2019Molecular pharmacology, 11, Volume: 96, Issue:5
A High-Throughput Screen of a Library of Therapeutics Identifies Cytotoxic Substrates of P-glycoprotein.
AID1347160Primary screen NINDS Rhodamine qHTS for Zika virus inhibitors2020Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 12-08, Volume: 117, Issue:49
Therapeutic candidates for the Zika virus identified by a high-throughput screen for Zika protease inhibitors.
AID1347159Primary screen GU Rhodamine qHTS for Zika virus inhibitors: Unlinked NS2B-NS3 protease assay2020Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 12-08, Volume: 117, Issue:49
Therapeutic candidates for the Zika virus identified by a high-throughput screen for Zika protease inhibitors.
AID1745854NCATS anti-infectives library activity on HEK293 viability as a counter-qHTS vs the C. elegans viability qHTS2023Disease models & mechanisms, 03-01, Volume: 16, Issue:3
In vivo quantitative high-throughput screening for drug discovery and comparative toxicology.
AID1745855NCATS anti-infectives library activity on the primary C. elegans qHTS viability assay2023Disease models & mechanisms, 03-01, Volume: 16, Issue:3
In vivo quantitative high-throughput screening for drug discovery and comparative toxicology.
[information is prepared from bioassay data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Research

Studies (10)

TimeframeStudies, This Drug (%)All Drugs %
pre-19901 (10.00)18.7374
1990's1 (10.00)18.2507
2000's1 (10.00)29.6817
2010's4 (40.00)24.3611
2020's3 (30.00)2.80
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Market Indicators

Research Demand Index: 50.58

According to the monthly volume, diversity, and competition of internet searches for this compound, as well the volume and growth of publications, there is estimated to be very strong demand-to-supply ratio for research on this compound.

MetricThis Compound (vs All)
Research Demand Index50.58 (24.57)
Research Supply Index2.40 (2.92)
Research Growth Index5.35 (4.65)
Search Engine Demand Index72.19 (26.88)
Search Engine Supply Index1.98 (0.95)

This Compound (50.58)

All Compounds (24.57)

Study Types

Publication TypeThis drug (%)All Drugs (%)
Trials0 (0.00%)5.53%
Reviews0 (0.00%)6.00%
Case Studies0 (0.00%)4.05%
Observational0 (0.00%)0.25%
Other10 (100.00%)84.16%
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]