Description
Usnic acid is a dibenzofuran initially produced by lichens and exhibits antibacterial, anti-angiogenic, and anticancer chemotherapeutic activities. Usnic acid displays antibiotic activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In lung carcinoma cells, usnic acid induces G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest, downregulates expression of CDK4, CDK6, and cyclin D1, and upregulates expression of p21, resulting in apoptosis. Usnic acid also inhibits breast cancer tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo.
References
Singh N, Nambiar D, Kale RK, et al. Usnic acid inhibits growth and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Nutr Cancer. 2013;65 Suppl 1:36-43. PMID: 23682781.
Song Y, Dai F, Zhai D, et al. Usnic acid inhibits breast tumor angiogenesis and growth by suppressing VEGFR2-mediated AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. Angiogenesis. 2012 Sep;15(3):421-32. PMID: 22669534.
Ramos DF, Almeida da Silva PE. Antimycobacterial activity of usnic acid against resistant and susceptible strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Pharm Biol. 2010 Mar;48(3):260-3. PMID: 20645810.
