title: Antimycobacterial activity of lichen metabolites in vitro.
abstract: Several compounds, whose structures represent the most common chemical classes of lichen metabolites, were screened for in vitro activity against Mycobacterium aurum, a non-pathogenic organism with a similar sensitivity profile to M. tuberculosis. Of the compounds tested, usnic acid from Cladonia arbuscula exhibited the highest activity with an MIC value of 32 microg/ml. Atranorin and lobaric acid, both isolated from Stereocaulon alpinum, salazinic acid from Parmelia saxatilis and protolichesterinic acid from Cetraria islandica all showed MIC values >/=125 microg/ml.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Iceland, Hagi/Hofsvallagata, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ingólfsdóttir
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Skúlason
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Gissurarson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vilhelmsdóttir
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053630:Depsides; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007783:Lactones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008011:Lichens / Q000378:metabolism*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000187:drug effects*; D012459:Salicylates / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001572:Benzofurans; D053630:Depsides; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D007783:Lactones; D012459:Salicylates; C116675:salazinic acid; C073339:usnic acid; C095781:protolichesterinic acid; C026304:atranorin; C104417:lobaric acid; D015107:4-Butyrolactone