Usnea species

Usnea species is a drug that is used as a herbal medicine and is used to treat inflammation of the mucous membranes. Usnea species is obtained from the dried thallus (the multicellular vegetative body of plants and fungi that is not divided into stem, root and leaf; fungi with a thallus include mosses, algae and seaweed).

Usnea species contains lichen acids (e.g. usnic acid, usnaric acid, thamolic acid); also lichenin.

Usnea species has antimicrobial and immunomodulating effects. The mechanism of action here is based on the principles of classical germ inhibition.

Usnea species is used for light inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat. The drug is also used as an expectorant and for local therapy of skin ulcers.

As lozenges 3 to 6 x /day one tablet.

There are no known adverse effects.

There are no known interactions with other drugs and their ingredients.

1. Oran S et al (2016) Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potential, and HPLC Analysis of Stictic and Usnic Acids of Three Usnea Species from Uludag Mountain (Bursa, Turkey). Iran J Pharm Res 15:527-535.
2. Schilcher H (2016) Leitfaden Phytotherapie, Urban & Fischer Verlag Munich, p. 68 f.
3. Tozatti MG et al (2016) Activity of the Lichen Usnea steineri and its Major Metabolites against Gram-positive, Multidrug-resistant Bacteria. Nat Prod Commun 11:493-496.
4. Zugic A et al (2016) Evaluation of Anticancer and Antioxidant Activity of a Commercially Available CO2 Supercritical Extract of Old Man's Beard (Usnea barbata). PLoS One 11:e0146342. ​