DISTRIBUTION OF OPTICAL ISOMERS OF USNIC AND ISOUSNIC ACIDS ANALYZED BY HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

抄録

  A new method to analyse optical activity of usnic and isousnic acids was established using high performance liquid chromatography with a chiral column. The method enabled analysis of these compounds even when their concentrations were low. Either (+)- or (-)-usnic acid was produced in most species examined here, but in the case of Flavocetraria lichens, both isomers were detected. (-)-Isousnic acid occurred together with (-)-usnic acid, and (+)-isousnic acid with (+)-usnic acid.