Critical Assessment of the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Usnic Acid and Its Derivatives—A Review
Inflammation is a response of the organism to an external factor that disrupts its natural homeostasis, and it helps to eliminate the cause of tissue injury. However, sometimes the body’s response is highly inadequate and the inflammation may become chronic. Thus, the search for novel anti-inflammat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/4/1046 |
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| author | Wojciech Paździora Irma Podolak Marta Grudzińska Paweł Paśko Karolina Grabowska Agnieszka Galanty |
| author_facet | Wojciech Paździora Irma Podolak Marta Grudzińska Paweł Paśko Karolina Grabowska Agnieszka Galanty |
| author_sort | Wojciech Paździora |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Inflammation is a response of the organism to an external factor that disrupts its natural homeostasis, and it helps to eliminate the cause of tissue injury. However, sometimes the body’s response is highly inadequate and the inflammation may become chronic. Thus, the search for novel anti-inflammatory agents is still needed. One of the groups of natural compounds that attract interest in this context is lichen metabolites, with usnic acid (UA) as the most promising candidate. The compound reveals a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties, among which anti-inflammatory properties have been studied both in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this review was to gather and critically evaluate the results of the so-far published data on the anti-inflammatory properties of UA. Despite some limitations and shortcomings of the studies included in this review, it can be concluded that UA has interesting anti-inflammatory potential. Further research should be directed at the (i) elucidation of the molecular mechanism of UA; (ii) verification of its safety; (iii) comparison of the efficacy and toxicity of UA enantiomers; (iv) design of UA derivatives with improved physicochemical properties and pharmacological activity; and (v) use of certain forms or delivery carriers of UA, especially in its topical application. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:49:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c842fa8664c841a58b1ec6103661f9e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:49:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-c842fa8664c841a58b1ec6103661f9e32023-11-17T20:07:25ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292023-04-01134104610.3390/life13041046Critical Assessment of the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Usnic Acid and Its Derivatives—A ReviewWojciech Paździora0Irma Podolak1Marta Grudzińska2Paweł Paśko3Karolina Grabowska4Agnieszka Galanty5Department of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, PolandDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, PolandDepartment of Food Chemistry and Nutrition, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, PolandDepartment of Food Chemistry and Nutrition, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, PolandDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, PolandDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, PolandInflammation is a response of the organism to an external factor that disrupts its natural homeostasis, and it helps to eliminate the cause of tissue injury. However, sometimes the body’s response is highly inadequate and the inflammation may become chronic. Thus, the search for novel anti-inflammatory agents is still needed. One of the groups of natural compounds that attract interest in this context is lichen metabolites, with usnic acid (UA) as the most promising candidate. The compound reveals a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties, among which anti-inflammatory properties have been studied both in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this review was to gather and critically evaluate the results of the so-far published data on the anti-inflammatory properties of UA. Despite some limitations and shortcomings of the studies included in this review, it can be concluded that UA has interesting anti-inflammatory potential. Further research should be directed at the (i) elucidation of the molecular mechanism of UA; (ii) verification of its safety; (iii) comparison of the efficacy and toxicity of UA enantiomers; (iv) design of UA derivatives with improved physicochemical properties and pharmacological activity; and (v) use of certain forms or delivery carriers of UA, especially in its topical application.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/4/1046usnic acidanti-inflammatoryenantioselective |
| spellingShingle | Wojciech Paździora Irma Podolak Marta Grudzińska Paweł Paśko Karolina Grabowska Agnieszka Galanty Critical Assessment of the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Usnic Acid and Its Derivatives—A Review Life usnic acid anti-inflammatory enantioselective |
| title | Critical Assessment of the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Usnic Acid and Its Derivatives—A Review |
| title_full | Critical Assessment of the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Usnic Acid and Its Derivatives—A Review |
| title_fullStr | Critical Assessment of the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Usnic Acid and Its Derivatives—A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Critical Assessment of the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Usnic Acid and Its Derivatives—A Review |
| title_short | Critical Assessment of the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Usnic Acid and Its Derivatives—A Review |
| title_sort | critical assessment of the anti inflammatory potential of usnic acid and its derivatives a review |
| topic | usnic acid anti-inflammatory enantioselective |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/4/1046 |
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