(+)-Usniacin

The Uses of (+)-Usniacin

Usnic acid is used as fragrance; preservative in deodorants; in anti ac ne formulations; antibiotic for topical application.

The Uses of (+)-Usniacin

Usnic Acid acts as an antibacterial and antifungal agent, and are often seen used in cosmetics and facial application chemicals.

The Uses of (+)-Usniacin

(+)-Usnic acid has been used to study the following:

• The mechanism of its antimicrobial activity in bacterial cells.
• Its ability as an antibiofilm agent against Group A Streptococci (GAS).
• Its ability as a potent anti-virulent compound against Candida albicans.
• The mechanism of its toxic effect on hepatocytes.
• Its ability to inhibit the motility of human lung cancer cells.

Definition

ChEBI: (-)-usnic acid is the (-)-enantiomer of usnic acid. It has a role as an EC 1.13.11.27 (4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase) inhibitor. It is a conjugate acid of a (-)-usnic acid(2-). It is an enantiomer of a (+)-usnic acid.

General Description

(+)-Usniacin is a primary reference substance with assigned absolute purity (considering chromatographic purity, water, residual solvents, inorganic impurities). The exact value can be found on the certificate. Produced by PhytoLab GmbH & Co. KG.

Biological Activity

mic: 0.05 μg/62.5 μl to 3.1 μg/62.5 μlmicroorganisms can colonize a wide variety of medical devices, putting patients at risk for systemic and local infectious complications, including local-site infections, endocarditis, and catheter-related bloodstream infections. (+)-usniacin is a secondary lichen metabolite that possesses antimicrobial activity against various planktonic gram-positive bacteria.

Contact allergens

Usnic acid is a component of lichens, also used as a topical antibiotic. Allergic contact dermatitis from lichens occurs mainly occupationally in forestry and horticultural workers, and in lichen pickers.

in vitro

(+)-usniacin showed antimicrobial activity against the same microorganisms as that of acetone extract. among the three analogues it was the most active one having quite low mic values. furthermore, (+)-usniacin did not show any activity against a. hydrophila and b. cereus whereas (d)-usnic acid did. on the other hand, (+)-usniacin was active against y. enterocolitica whereas (d)-usnic acid was not active [1].

Purification Methods

This very weak acid is the natural form which is recrystallised from Me2CO, MeOH or *C6H6. At 25o it is soluble in H2O (<0.01%), Me2CO (0.77%), EtOAc (0.88%), MeOCH2CH2OH (0.22%) and furfural (7.32%). [Curd & Robertson J Chem Soc 894 1937, Barton & Brunn J Chem Soc 603 1953, resolution: Dean et al. J Chem Soc 1250 1953, synthesis: Barton et al. J Chem Soc 538 1956, Beilstein 18/5 V 586.]

References

[1] tay t, türk ao, yilmaz m, türk h, kivanç m. evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of the acetone extract of the lichen ramalina farinacea and its (+)-usnic acid, norstictic acid, and protocetraric acid constituents. z naturforsch c. 2004 may-jun;59(5-6):384-8.
[2] ghione m, parrello d, grasso l. usnic acid revisited, its activity on oral flora. chemioterapia. 1988 oct;7(5):302-5.