Lichen Depsides and Tridepsides: Progress in Pharmacological Approaches

Area of Science:

• Natural Products Chemistry
• Pharmacology
• Medicinal Botany

Background:

• Depsides and tridepsides are secondary metabolites predominantly found in lichens.
• Recent years have seen a surge in scientific interest regarding their diverse pharmacological properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize current research on the biological effects and mechanisms of action of lichen-derived depsides and tridepsides.
• To identify knowledge gaps and suggest future research directions in the field.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of studies investigating the pharmacology of lichen depsides and tridepsides.
• Analysis of reported biological activities, mechanisms of action, and study methodologies (in vitro, in silico, in vivo).

Main Results:

• Atranorin, gyrophoric acid, diffractaic acid, and lecanoric acid are the most extensively studied compounds.
• Antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities are the most frequently reported, primarily from in vitro investigations.
• Limited in silico and in vivo studies exist, with no clinical trials conducted to date.

Conclusions:

• Lichen depsides and tridepsides exhibit significant pharmacological potential, particularly in antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial applications.
• There is a critical need for more robust in vivo studies and human clinical trials to validate these findings.
• A vast number of depsides and tridepsides remain underexplored, representing opportunities for future drug discovery.