Abietic Acid

Abietic acid is an abietane diterpene originally isolated from wood resin that has diverse biological activities, including enzyme inhibitory, antiproliferative, antibacterial, and anti-obesity properties. It inhibits soybean 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and rat prostate testosterone 5α-reductase in cell-free assays (IC50s = 29.5 and 56 μM, respectively). Abietic acid selectively inhibits proliferation of HeLa cervical cancer cells over noncancerous Vero cells (IC50s = 15 and 53 μM, respectively) and inhibits the growth of S. epidermidis, P. acnes, and S. mitis bacteria (MICs = 8, 4, and 16 μg/ml, respectively). It induces expression of fatty acid binding protein 2 and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in differentiated 3T3-L1 mouse adipocytes when used at a concentration of 25 μM. Abietic acid (40 mg/kg per day) also decreases body and adipose tissue weight in mice fed a high-fat diet.