A2 Secondary Metabolites · Depsidone · Hypogymnia physodes

3-Hydroxyphysodic Acid Antioxidant Line

The strongest radical scavenger in our comparative metabolite study — and the comparison was made per mole rather than per unit weight. That distinction matters when you translate a screening result into a formulation dose.

Book a 30-minute discovery call Request the data package

Evidence: Peer-reviewed 2022 · DPPH + superoxide
Stage: Pilot-ready · licensing open
Indicative: € 5 000 – 25 000negotiable by scope and application

Scientific summary

In our 2022 comparative study, seven isolated lichen metabolites were compared on an equal amount-of-substance basis rather than by weight. On that basis 3-hydroxyphysodic acid showed the strongest scavenging activity of all compounds tested, in both DPPH and superoxide anion assays, and mixtures containing it out-performed mixtures that did not.

Why the molar comparison matters commercially

Screening results reported per unit weight are not directly comparable across compounds with different molecular weights. Comparing per mole tells you how many molecules are actually doing the work — which is the number you need when you convert a screening hit into a formulation dose and a cost per batch. The published rationale points to the catechol fragment as the structural reason for the activity.

Applications

Natural antioxidant discovery
Cosmetic active screening
Nutraceutical ingredient evaluation
Comparative antioxidant panels

Assays & readouts available

DPPH free-radical scavenging
Superoxide anion scavenging (NBT/PMS/NADH)
Mixture and ratio screening
NMR structural confirmation

Specification

Compound class	Depsidone (lichen secondary metabolite)
Biological source	Hypogymnia physodes
Evidence status	Published evidence (in vitro, cell-free antioxidant assays)
Publication	Elečko J et al., Plants 2022;11(8):1077 — doi:10.3390/plants11081077
Typical pilot	Bioactivity pilot 4–8 weeks
Deliverables	Isolated material, comparative assay data, technical report
Engagement	Feasibility scan · pilot · licensing
Indicative price	€ 5 000 – 25 000, negotiable by scope and application

Antioxidant activity here is measured in chemical and cell-free assays. Translating it into a claim about a finished cosmetic or food product requires separate work and separate regulatory assessment — that is a conversation we are happy to have, not a claim we make for you.

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.

Book a 30-minute discovery call Send an inquiry

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.

Related in Secondary Metabolites

A1Lead compound

Depside · Umbilicaria hirsuta

Gyrophoric Acid Platform

The best-characterised compound in the portfolio. Published work reports ROS production, apoptosis and modulation of Akt, Erk1/2 and p38 MAPK in HeLa cells, with a validated isolation protocol giving high-purity material.

Evidence: Peer-reviewed 2019 · mechanistic dataset
Stage: Pilot-ready · licensing open
Indicative: € 8 000 – 35 000negotiable by scope and application

View details Discuss this

Depside · Reference metabolite

Atranorin Bioactivity Line

A widely cited lichen compound with repeatedly published bioactivity, included in both of our screening studies. A dependable reference compound and panel anchor for antiproliferative, antioxidant and antimicrobial work.

Evidence: Peer-reviewed 2022 & 2023
Stage: Pilot-ready · licensing open
Indicative: € 4 000 – 22 000negotiable by scope and application

View details Discuss this

Depsidone · Hypogymnia physodes

Physodic Acid Bioactivity Line

Present in both of our published panels, with antioxidant and antiproliferative activity reported in 2D and 3D models. A natural comparator when you want to benchmark a candidate against gyrophoric acid within one experimental system.

Evidence: Peer-reviewed 2022 & 2023
Stage: Pilot-ready · licensing open
Indicative: € 5 000 – 25 000negotiable by scope and application

View details Discuss this

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.

Book a 30-minute discovery call Send an inquiry instead