Diffractaic acid explained

Diffractaic acid is a β-orcinol depside with the molecular formula C₂₀H₂₂O₇, which is produced by lichens.^{[1] [2]} Diffractaic acid has cytotoxic, cytogenetic, oxidative, analgesic and antiviral effects.^[2]

The foliose lichen species Punctelia diffractaica is named for the presence of this compound.^[3]

Further reading

• Book: Sinha . Rajeshwar P. . Häder . h c Donat-P. . Natural Bioactive Compounds: Technological Advancements . 6 October 2020 . Academic Press . 978-0-12-820659-1 . 257 . en.

Notes and References

1. Book: Sukumaran . Swapna Thacheril . Sugathan . Shiburaj . Abdulhameed . Sabu . Plant Metabolites: Methods, Applications and Prospects . 28 November 2020 . Springer Nature . 978-981-15-5136-9 . 265 . en.
2. Demir . Leyla . Toğar . Başak . Türkez . Hasan . Sozio . Piera . Aslan . Ali . Stefano . Antonio Di . The investigation of cytogenetic and oxidative effects of diffractaic acid on human lymphocyte cultures . Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology . 2015 . 58 . 75–81 . 10.1590/S1516-8913201502752 . en . 1516-8913. free .
3. Kurokawa . S. . 1999 . Notes on Flavopunctelia and Punctelia (Parmeliaceae), with descriptions of four new species . Bulletin of the Botanical Garden of Toyama . 4 . 25–32.