Usneaceae

Usnic acid is a secondary metabolite of lichens with a unique dibenzofuran skeleton. Usnic acid inhibits DNA/RNA synthesis and has antibacterial activity. Usnic acid induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and has anticancer activity. Usnic acid inhibits RANKL-mediated osteoclast formation and function by reducing the transcriptional and translational expression of NFATc1. Usnic acid has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase.

Diffractaic acid, a major constituent of U. longissimi, acts as an effective proapoptotic agent in various disorders research. Diffractaic acid is the analgesic and antipyretic component of Usnea diffracta.

Barbatic acid is an active compound.

Norstictic acid is a potent and selective allossteric transcriptional regulator. Norstictic acid shows anticancer activity. Norstictic acid shows antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity.

Ethyl orsellinate is a lichen metabolite and a derivative of lecanoric acid with antiproliferative and antitumour activities. Ethyl Orsellinate is against A. salina for the cytotoxic activity with an LC₅₀ of 495 μM.

Usenamine A is an orally active natural dibenzofuran compound with multiple biological activities such as anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. Usenamine A inhibits the AKT/mTOR/STAT3/ID1 signaling axis and induces ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of ID1. Usenamine A targets the TNF-TNFR2 complex, inhibits RGS2, and interferes with Myosin-9/actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Usenamine A induces apoptosis, autophagy and ROS-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress in cancer cells, inhibits cancer cell proliferation and invasion, and reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Usenamine A alleviates arthritis-related symptoms. Usenamine A can be used in studies related to liver cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Usnic acid is a secondary metabolite of lichens with a unique dibenzofuran skeleton. Usnic acid inhibits DNA/RNA synthesis and has antibacterial activity. Usnic acid induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and has anticancer activity. Usnic acid inhibits RANKL-mediated osteoclast formation and function by reducing the transcriptional and translational expression of NFATc1. Usnic acid has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase.