Vulpinic Acid (Synonyms: NSC 5897)

Vulpinic acid is a lichen metabolite that has been found in L. vulpina and has diverse biological activities.1,2,3,4 It is active against C. perfringens, B. vulgatus, B. fragilis, B. loescheii, P. acnes, E. faecium, and methicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus (MICs = 4-16 μg/ml).1 Vulpinic acid (25-800 μM) prevents UVB-induced apoptosis, cytotoxicity, and cytoskeletal modifications in HaCaT human keratinocytes.2 It also increases scratch wound healing of HaCaT cells.3 Vulpinic acid (15 μM) reduces hydrogen peroxide-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytotoxicity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).4

References
1. Lauterwein, M., Oethinger, M., Belsner, K., et al. In vitro activities of the lichen secondary metabolites vulpinic acid, (+)-usnic acid, and (—)-usnic acid against aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 39(11), 2541-2543 (1995).
2. Varol, M., TÜrk, A., Candan, M., et al. Photoprotective activity of vulpinic and gyrophoric acids toward ultraviolet B-induced damage in human keratinocytes. Phytother. Res. 30(1), 9-15 (2016).
3. Burlando, B., Ranzato, E., Volante, A., et al. Antiproliferative effects on tumour cells and promotion of keratinocyte wound healing by different lichen compounds. Planta. Med. 75(6), 607-613 (2009).
4. Sahin, E., Psav, S.D., Avan, I., et al. Vulpinic acid, a lichen metabolite, emerges as a potential drug candidate in the therapy of oxidative stress-related diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Hum. Exp. Toxicol. 38(6), 675-684 (2019).