Biological activities of lichen substances

Lichen chemistry continues to be a flourishing branch of natural product chemistry. Since the last major review by Elix et al. in volume 35 of this series 274) many new and interesting lichen substances have been isolated and synthesized. This suggests that an update is desirable. As in the previous articles new methods for structure elucidation and synthesis, biosynthesis, chemotaxonomy and biological activities of lichen substances will be discussed. Some other relatively recent treatments of the subject need to be mentioned A short chapter by... 

According to more recent investigations, the biological activities of lichens and lichen substances can be divided into ... 

Lauterwein M, Oethinger M, Belsner K et al (1995) hi vitro activities of the lichen secondary metabolites vulpinic acid, (-l-)-usnic acid, and (-)- usnic acid and against aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 39 2541-2543 Lawrey JD (1986) Biological role of lichen substances. Byrologist 89 111-122... 

Lahlou M (2013) The success of natural products in drug discovery. Pharmacol Pharm 4 17-31 Lawrey JD (1986) Biological role of lichen substances. Bryologist 89 111-122 Liu H, Liu Y, Liu Y et al (2010) A novel anticancer agent, retigeric acid B, displays proliferation inhibition, S phase arrest and apoptosis activation in human prostate cancer cells. Chem Biol Interact 188 598-606... 

Rankovic B, Misic M, Sukdolak S (2008) The antimicrobial activity of substances derived from the lichens Physcia aipolia, Umbilicaria polyphylla, Parmelia caperata and Hypogymnia physodes. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 24 1239-1242 Rankovic B, Kosanic M, Manojlovic N et al (2014) Chemical composition of Hypogymnia physodes lichen and biological activities of some its major metabolites. Med Chem Res 23 408-416 Rezanka T, Dembitsky V (1999) Novel brominated lipidic compounds from lichcms of Central Asia. Phytochemistry 51 963-968... 

Given this background of generalized biological effects of lichen-derived substances, antiviral activity of lichen-derived compounds should be anticipated. 

There is a growing interest in the pharmaceutical properties of compounds derived from lichens. However, relatively few lichen substances have been screened in detail for biological activity and therapeutic potential, due principally to difficulties in obtaining them in quantities and purities sufficient for structural elucidation and pharmacological testing. Additionally, precise lichen determinatirHi is essential and requires taxonomic expertise (Boustie and Grube 2005). 

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