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Details

Stereochemistry ABSOLUTE
Molecular Formula C18H16O7
Molecular Weight 344.3154
Optical Activity UNSPECIFIED
Defined Stereocenters 1 / 1
E/Z Centers 0
Charge 0

SHOW SMILES / InChI
Structure of USNIC ACID, (S)-

SMILES

CC(=O)C1=C2OC3=CC(O)=C(C(C)=O)C(=O)[C@@]3(C)C2=C(O)C(C)=C1O

InChI

InChIKey=WEYVVCKOOFYHRW-GOSISDBHSA-N
InChI=1S/C18H16O7/c1-6-14(22)12(8(3)20)16-13(15(6)23)18(4)10(25-16)5-9(21)11(7(2)19)17(18)24/h5,21-23H,1-4H3/t18-/m1/s1

HIDE SMILES / InChI

Molecular Formula C18H16O7
Molecular Weight 344.3154
Charge 0
Count
Stereochemistry ABSOLUTE
Additional Stereochemistry No
Defined Stereocenters 1 / 1
E/Z Centers 0
Optical Activity UNSPECIFIED

(-)-Usnic acid is the 'S-' isomer of usnic acid a bioactive compound mainly found as a secondary metabolite in lichens. Meaningful differences have been noted in the bioactivity of (+)- and (-)- usnic acid. For Example (-)-usnic acid is more active as an antiviral against H1N1 influenza; but, derivitization reverses this specificity (-)usnic acid is also a selective natural herbicide because of its blocking action against a specific key plant enzyme. In contrast (+)-usnic acid showed higher cytotoxic activity in cancerous cells, and (+)-usnic acid appears to be selective against Streptococcus mutants without perturbing side effects on the oral saprophyte flora.

Originator

Curator's Comment: Usnic acid was first isolated by German scientist W. Knop in 1844

Approval Year

Conditions

Conditions

ConditionModalityTargetsHighest PhaseProduct
PubMed

PubMed

TitleDatePubMed
Potential of lichen secondary metabolites against Plasmodium liver stage parasites with FAS-II as the potential target.
2013-06-28
Membrane-damaging potential of natural L-(-)-usnic acid in Staphylococcus aureus.
2012-12
Cellular mechanisms of the anticancer effects of the lichen compound usnic acid.
2010-07
Insecticidal activity of major lichen compounds, (-)- and (+)-usnic acid, against the larvae of house mosquito, Culex pipiens L.
2008-05
In vitro cytotoxic activities of (+)-usnic acid and (-)-usnic acid on V79, A549, and human lymphocyte cells and their non-genotoxicity on human lymphocytes.
2006-12
Cytotoxic activity of compounds from the lichen: Cladonia convoluta.
2004-09
The antimicrobial activity of extracts of the lichen Cladonia foliacea and its (-)-usnic acid, atranorin, and fumarprotocetraric acid constituents.
2004-07-10
A review on usnic acid, an interesting natural compound.
2002-04
Patents

Sample Use Guides

In Vivo Use Guide
Unknown
Route of Administration: Unknown
In Vitro Use Guide
Unknown
Substance Class Chemical
Created
by admin
on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025
Edited
by admin
on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025
Record UNII
5HYW08F205
Record Status Validated (UNII)
Record Version
  • Download
Name Type Language
NSC-5889
Preferred Name English
USNIC ACID, (S)-
Common Name English
1(9BH)-DIBENZOFURANONE, 2,6-DIACETYL-3,7,9-TRIHYDROXY-8,9B-DIMETHYL-, (S)-
Systematic Name English
(S)-(-)-USNIC ACID
Common Name English
1(9BH)-DIBENZOFURANONE, 2,6-DIACETYL-3,7,9-TRIHYDROXY-8,9B-DIMETHYL-, (9BS)-
Systematic Name English
1,3(2H,9BH)-DIBENZOFURANDIONE, 2,6-DIACETYL-7,9-DIHYDROXY-8,9B-DIMETHYL-, (9BS)-
Systematic Name English
USNIC ACID, (-)-
Common Name English
(-)-USNIC ACID
Common Name English
(S)-USNIC ACID
Common Name English
USNIC ACID, L-
Common Name English
Code System Code Type Description
CHEBI
122
Created by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
CAS
56190-51-3
Created by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025
ALTERNATIVE
EPA CompTox
DTXSID40977181
Created by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
PUBCHEM
442614
Created by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
CAS
6159-66-6
Created by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
NSC
5889
Created by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
FDA UNII
5HYW08F205
Created by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Mon Mar 31 21:52:36 GMT 2025
PRIMARY