Divaricatic acid
{{Chembox
| ImageFile = Divaricatic acid.svg
| ImageSize = 200px
| ImageAlt =
| IUPACName = 2-Hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-propylbenzoyl)oxy-6-propylbenzoic acid
| OtherNames =
| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers
| CASNo = 491-62-3
| ChEBI = 144147
| ChEMBL = 1965404
| ChemSpiderID = 329798
| PubChem = 371610
| SMILES = CCCC1=C(C(=CC(=C1)OC)O)C(=O)OC2=CC(=C(C(=C2)O)C(=O)O)CCC
| InChI = 1S/C21H24O7/c1-4-6-12-9-15(11-16(22)18(12)20(24)25)28-21(26)19-13(7-5-2)8-14(27-3)10-17(19)23/h8-11,22-23H,4-7H2,1-3H3,(H,24,25)
| InChIKey = FSRDIJIAQPSMMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
}}
| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties
| C = 21 | H = 24 | O = 7
| Appearance = Colorless crystalline needles
| Density =
| MeltingPtC = 129
| BoilingPt =
| Solubility =
}}
| Section3 = {{Chembox Hazards
| MainHazards =
| FlashPt =
| AutoignitionPt =
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Divaricatic acid is a chemical compound with the molecular formula {{chem2|C21H24O7}}. It is found in a variety of lichens, including some in the genera Evernia,{{cite journal | title = Lichen substances. XV. Divaricatic acid | author = Asahina, Yasuhiko; Hirakata, Teruo | journal = Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft [Abteilung] B: Abhandlungen | date = 1932 | volume = 65B | pages = 1665–1668 | doi = 10.1002/cber.19320651007 }} and Lepraria,{{cite journal | doi = 10.3852/11-032 | title = A taxonomic revision of the North American species of Lepraria s.l. That produce divaricatic acid, with notes on the type species of the genus L. Incana | date = 2011 | last1 = Lendemer | first1 = James C. | journal = Mycologia | volume = 103 | issue = 6 | pages = 1216–1229 | pmid = 21642343 }} and Ramalina.{{cite journal | doi = 10.3390/molecules20058952 | doi-access = free | title = Chemistry and Biological Activity of Ramalina Lichenized Fungi | date = 2015 | last1 = Moreira | first1 = Antônio | last2 = Braz-Filho | first2 = Raimundo | last3 = Mussi-Dias | first3 = Vicente | last4 = Vieira | first4 = Ivo | journal = Molecules | volume = 20 | issue = 5 | pages = 8952–8987 | pmid = 25996207 | pmc = 6272487 }} It is classified as a depside.
Divaricatic acid forms colorless crystalline needles with a melting point of 129 °C.{{cite journal | title = On lichen materials | author = Hesse, O. | journal = Ber. Dtsch. Chem. Ges. | date = 1897 | volume = 30 | pages = 357–366 | doi = 10.1002/cber.18970300172 }}
Divaricatic acid has antibacterial properties against some Gram positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus mutans, and Enterococcus faecium.{{cite journal | doi = 10.3390/molecules23123068 | doi-access = free | title = Antimicrobial Activity of Divaricatic Acid Isolated from the Lichen Evernia mesomorpha against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus | date = 2018 | last1 = Oh | first1 = Jong Min | last2 = Kim | first2 = Yi Jeong | last3 = Gang | first3 = Hyo-Seung | last4 = Han | first4 = Jin | last5 = Ha | first5 = Hyung-Ho | last6 = Kim | first6 = Hoon | journal = Molecules | volume = 23 | issue = 12 | page = 3068 | pmid = 30477128 | pmc = 6320781 }} Since it also has activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with a potency equivalent to that of vancomycin, it has been suggested as a potential treatment for MRSA. It also has molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata (ram's horn snail) and antiparasitic activity against cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni (blood fluke).{{cite journal | doi = 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.09.019 | title = Laboratory assessment of divaricatic acid against Biomphalaria glabrata and Schistosoma mansoni cercariae | date = 2018 | last1 = Silva | first1 = H.A.M.F. | last2 = Siqueira | first2 = W.N. | last3 = Sá | first3 = J.L.F. | last4 = Silva | first4 = L.R.S | last5 = Martins | first5 = M.C.B. | last6 = Aires | first6 = A.L. | last7 = Amâncio | first7 = F.F. | last8 = Pereira | first8 = E.C. | last9 = Albuquerque | first9 = M.C.P.A | last10 = Melo | first10 = A.M.M.A. | last11 = Silva | first11 = N.H. | journal = Acta Tropica | volume = 178 | pages = 97–102 | pmid = 29097241 }}