Penicillic acid is synthesized by a large number of fungi, such as P. puberulum, Penicillium stoloniferum, P. eye/opium Penicillium martensii, Penicillium thomii. The synthesis of this secondary metabolite has little or no taxonomic significance [1].
In vitro: The compound was active primarily against gram-negative bacteria, and it was also active against some gram-positive species. It showed limited antihelminthic properties but did affect the growth of oat seed coleoptiles by interference with the respiratory process. Penicillic acid has proven to be too toxic for use in therapy [1]. Penicillic acid (80 μM) inhibited bacterial quorum sensing communication in P. aeruginosa by selectively repressing various virulence factor and other quorum sensing-regulated genes [2]. In Burkitt’s lymphoma Raji cells, penicillic acid exihibited an inhibitory effect on Fas-mediated apoptosis at 100-200 μM by targeting caspase-8 activity [3].
In vivo: The LDso (subcutaneous injection) for mice is 100 mg/kg. Subcutaneous injection of 1.0 mg/dose twice weekly produced transplantable tumors after 64 weeks in all rats surviving treatment. In addition, a dose at 0.1 mg initiated tumor development [1].
References:
[1] Ciegler A, Detroy R W, Lillehoj E B. Patulin, penicillic acid, and other carcinogenic lactones[J]. Microbial toxins, 1971, 6: 409-434.
[2] Rasmussen T B, Skindersoe M E, Bjarnsholt T, et al. Identity and effects of quorum-sensing inhibitors produced by Penicillium species[J]. Microbiology, 2005, 151(5): 1325-1340.
[3] Bando M, Hasegawa M, Tsuboi Y, et al. The mycotoxin penicillic acid inhibits Fas ligand-induced apoptosis by blocking self-processing of caspase-8 in death-inducing signaling complex[J]. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2003, 278(8): 5786-5793.