Kaurenoic acid (ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid or Kauren-19-oic acid) is a diterpene with antibacterial activity against

Gram-positive bacteria In bacteriology, gram-positive bacteria are bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test, which is traditionally used to quickly classify bacteria into two broad categories according to their type of cell wall. Gram-positive bact ...

. However its low solubility and blood lytic activity on erythrocytes might make it a poor pharmaceutical candidate. Kaurenoic acid also has uterine relaxant activity via calcium blockade and opening ATP-sensitive potassium channels. Kaurenoic acid is found in several plants such as

Copaifera ''Copaifera'' is a genus of tropical plants in the legume family Fabaceae. The scientific name means "copal-bearer" (or more accurately, ''copaiba''-bearer), since economically important resins and essential oils can be acquired from them. They ...

. It is a potential biomarker for the presence of sunflower in foods.

Medical use

Kaurenoic acid has been studied for its medicinal properties and seems to have anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic, antitumor, antinociceptive, antimelanoma, antitilipoperoxidation, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Kaurenoic acid decreases leukocyte migration. It seems to inhibit histamine and serotonin pathways, in addition to antiprotozoal activities against '' Trypanosoma cruzi'' and ''

Leishmania amazonensis ''Leishmania amazonensis'' is a parasite responsible for the disease leishmaniasis. This species has been known to spread by using sandflies Sandfly (or sand fly) is a colloquial name for any species or genus of flying, biting, blood-suckin ...

''.

References

{{Authority control Diterpenes Tetracyclic compounds Carboxylic acids