Fumarprotocetraric acid is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is a

secondary metabolite Secondary metabolites, also called ''specialised metabolites'', ''secondary products'', or ''natural products'', are organic compounds produced by any lifeform, e.g. bacteria, archaea, fungi, animals, or plants, which are not directly involved ...

produced by a variety of

lichen A lichen ( , ) is a hybrid colony (biology), colony of algae or cyanobacteria living symbiotically among hypha, filaments of multiple fungus species, along with yeasts and bacteria embedded in the cortex or "skin", in a mutualism (biology), m ...

Occurrence

Fumarprotocetraric acid is mainly known for its occurrence in

Iceland moss ''Cetraria islandica'', also known as true Iceland lichen or Iceland moss, is an Arctic-alpine lichen whose erect or upright, leaflike habit gives it the appearance of a moss, where its name likely comes from. Description It is often of a pale ...

(''Cetraria islandica''), where it is present in a mass fraction of 1–2% (dried thallus). In addition, fumarprotocetraric acid has been detected in many other lichens, including: * '' Callopisma teicholytum'' [] * ''Cetraria fahluensis'' [] * ''Cetraria islandica'' [] * '' Cladina rangiferina'' [] * ''Cladina silvatica'' [] * ''Cladonia chlorophaea'' [] * ''Cladonia fimbriata'' [] var. apolepta [] f. coniocraea [] * ''Cladonia fimbriata'' [] var. cornuto-radiata [] * ''Cladonia fimbriata'' [] var. simplex [] f. major [] * ''Cladonia fimbriata'' [] var. simplex [] f. minor [] * ''Cladonia foliacea'' [] var. alcicornis [] * ''Cladonia foliacea'' [] var. convoluta [] * ''Cladonia furcata'' [] var. pinnata [] * ''Cladonia furcata'' [] var. racemosa [] * ''Cladonia gracilis'' [] var. chordalis [] * ''Cladonia gracilis'' [] var. elongata [] * ''Cladonia pityrea'' [] var. cladomorpha [] * ''Cladonia pityrea'' [] var. Zwackhii [] * ''Cladonia pyxidata'' [] var. cereina [] * ''Cladonia pyxidata'' [] var. neglecta [] * ''Cladonia subcervicornis'' [] * ''Cladonia verticillata'' [] var. cervicornis [] f. phyllophora ) ref name=":3" /> * ''Cladonia verticillata'' [] var. evoluta [] * ''Dendrographa leucophaea'' [] * '' Parmelia stygia'' ) ref name="Römpp" />

Pharmacology research

Fumarprotocetraric acid has antibacterial activity. It also induces an immunostimulating effect ''

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning ''in glass'', or ''in the glass'') Research, studies are performed with Cell (biology), cells or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in ...

'' by triggering the formation of

hydrogen peroxide Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the formula . In its pure form, it is a very pale blue liquid that is slightly more viscosity, viscous than Properties of water, water. It is used as an oxidizer, bleaching agent, and antiseptic, usua ...

. Furthermore,

cytotoxicity Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Examples of toxic agents are toxic metals, toxic chemicals, microbe neurotoxins, radiation particles and even specific neurotransmitters when the system is out of balance. Also some types of d ...

against two cancer cell lines has been demonstrated.

References

{{reflist Dicarboxylic acids Benzaldehydes Hydroxyarenes Lichen products Benzoic acids Fumarate esters Benzodioxepines