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 (E) and cis (Z) 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.
As a compound, it has been isolated from the resins of the conifer species, Juniperus communis and Austrocedrus chilensis. These resin acids have a defending role in the plants, keeping away the herbivores and microbes.
Recently, (+)-communic acid was isolated from the branches of Platycladus orientalis. This acid seems to exhibit protective effects against UVB-induced skin aging.
Biological activity Communic acid itself has exhibited some antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in recent studies. Also, communic acid can serve as a chiral building block (whoch is called chiron) for the synthesis of some complex natural products.
See also Labdane Resin acid Abietic acid Juniperus communis
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