title: In vitro activities of the lichen secondary metabolites vulpinic acid, (+)-usnic acid, and (-)-usnic acid against aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms.
abstract: Secondary metabolites of different species of lichen were tested for their activities against a variety of microbial species. While gram-negative rods and fungi were not inhibited by these compounds, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, and some anaerobic species (Bacteroides and Clostridium species) were susceptible at the concentrations tested. Vulpinic acid generally was less active than usnic acid, regardless of its stereochemistry. The susceptibility to usnic acid was not impaired in clinical isolates of S. aureus resistant to methicillin and/or mupirocin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology of Natural Compounds, University of Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lauterwein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oethinger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Belsner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marre
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000187:drug effects*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D005663:Furans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016712:Mupirocin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001572:Benzofurans; D005663:Furans; D010648:Phenylacetates; C073339:usnic acid; C077134:vulpinic acid; D016712:Mupirocin