Communic acid
Communic acid is a naturally occurring labdane-type diterpenoid resin acid, commonly present in the resins of several coniferous trees, particularly species of Juniperus and other Cupressaceae species.
It has a molecular weight of 302.5 g/mol, and has been studied for its various biological activities, including antimicrobial, antibacterial and antitumor effects, and its use as a synthetic building block for other compounds.
Chemistry and occurrence
Communic acid belongs to the labdane family of diterpenes and possesses a carboxylic acid functional group. It occurs mainly as two geometric isomers: the trans and cis forms, which differ in the configuration of the double bond at C-13–C-14. Its molecular formula is C20H32O2, and it features a bicyclic skeleton typical of labdane diterpenes.Communic acid and its derivatives have been isolated from the resins of Juniperus communis, Austrocedrus chilensis, and other conifers. These resin acids play a defensive role in plants, deterring herbivores and inhibiting microbial growth.
Recently, -communic acid was isolated from the branches of Platycladus orientalis. This acid seems to exhibit protective effects against UVB-induced skin aging.