A11 Secondary Metabolites · β-Orcinol depsidone · Usnea sp.

Stictic Acid Antioxidant Line

A β-orcinol depsidone with published radical-scavenging (DPPH, superoxide), apoptotic activity in primary hepatocytes and antimicrobial data — and a chemically measurable HPLC reference metabolite.

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Evidence: Published literature · in vitro
Stage: Pilot on request
Indicative: Price on requestnegotiable by scope and application

Chemical structure of stictic acid — Stictic Acid — structural formula

Scientific summary

Stictic acid is a β-orcinol depsidone widely reported in lichens. Its structure supports chemical stability, bioactivity and interaction with cellular enzymes. Published work supports antioxidant activity, apoptosis-associated activity in primary hepatocytes, antimicrobial activity, and use as a chemically measurable lichen metabolite in HPLC methods.

Biological rationale as published

Antioxidant. Stictic acid and its derivatives have been assessed in DPPH, superoxide and related radical-scavenging systems.
Apoptosis. A comparative study of 15 lichen secondary metabolites in primary rat hepatocytes identified stictic acid among compounds with significant apoptotic activity.
Antimicrobial. Antimicrobial potential of stictic acid was reported together with its HPLC quantification in three Usnea species.

Applications

Antioxidant screening and redox-mechanism studies
Antimicrobial screening
Apoptosis / cytotoxicity research in cell models
HPLC reference metabolite

Assays & readouts available

Cytotoxicity; MTT / cell survival
ORAC, DPPH radical scavenging, superoxide-anion (SOD) scavenging
LDH release; DNA fragmentation / flow cytometry
DCFH-type ROS assays
HPLC and NMR compound identification

Specification

Compound class	Depsidone (lichen secondary metabolite)
Biological source	Usnea sp., Xanthoparmelia sp. and other lichens
Evidence status	In vitro bioactivity reports (published by external groups)
Molecular formula	C₁₉H₁₄O₉ · MW 386.3 g/mol
Typical pilot	Bioactivity pilot 4–8 weeks, or custom research pilot 8–12 weeks
Engagement	Feasibility scan · pilot · licensing · co-development
Indicative price	Price on request, negotiable by scope and application

Publications

Stictic Acid Derivatives from the Lichen Usnea articulata and Their Antioxidant Activities. J Nat Prod 2007. — PubMed 17629329
Correché ER et al. Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on hepatocytes of secondary metabolites obtained from lichens. ATLA 2004. — PubMed 15757498
HPLC isolation of antioxidant constituents from Xanthoparmelia spp. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2010. — PubMed 20457504
Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potential, and HPLC Analysis of Stictic and Usnic Acids of Three Usnea Species from Uludag Mountain (Bursa, Turkey). — PubMed 27642324
Frenák R et al. Lichens as a Source of Nematocidal Compounds (17-metabolite panel). ACS Omega 2026. — doi:10.1021/acsomega.6c05106

All published findings for this compound are in vitro. They are not evidence of clinical efficacy, safety in humans, or regulatory status, and we do not present them as such.

What happens next

Book a call or send an inquiry. Tell us the target, the application and the timeline.
We answer within three working days — including when the answer is that we cannot help.
NDA before disclosure, if you need one. Tick the box on the form.
Feasibility scan or pilot proposal with a defined scope, deliverable and price.

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Common questions

How does an engagement start?

With a free 30-minute discovery call. We establish whether there is a fit and what the right next step is. Nothing is committed at that point.

Can we sign an NDA before we describe our project?

Yes. Tick the NDA box on the inquiry form and we arrange it before any disclosure.

Are the prices on this site binding?

No. They are indicative ranges so that you can size a project before contacting us. Final terms are negotiated per scope.

How quickly do you reply?

Every inquiry is acknowledged within one working day and answered by the responsible group leader within three.

What happens if you cannot help?

We say so, early, and where we can we point you to someone who can. A negative feasibility answer delivered quickly is a useful result.

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Tell us what you are trying to achieve.

A free 30-minute call establishes whether there is a fit and what the right next step is. Every inquiry is acknowledged within one working day and answered by the responsible group leader within three.

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