National Toxicology Program

CASRN: USNEALICHEN

Related: 125-46-2; 84696-53-7

Known Uses:

Usnea is used as a preservative, active ingredient in medicinal products, marketed as a dietary supplement to promote weight loss. This is a mixture of Usnea scabrata and Usnea carvernosa

Short-Term Toxicity

• 2 weeks (Dosed-Feed)  (C20702)  Completed 
  • Rats: F344 (NCTR); Mice: B6C3F1/NCTR BR (C57BL/6N x C3H/HEN MTV-)
  • Dose: R: 0, 20, 60, 120, 360, or 1250 ppm; M: 0, 10, 30, 60, 180, or 600 ppm [usnic acid equivalent of herbal preparation from crude lichen].
• 90 days (Dosed-Feed)  (C20702)  Completed 
  • Rats: F344 (NCTR); Mice: B6C3F1/NCTR BR (C57BL/6N x C3H/HEN MTV-)
  • Dose: Mice: 0, 15, 30, 60, 180, 360 ppm usnic acid delivered in ground usnea lichen prep. Rats: 0, 1, 60, 120, 260, 720 ppm usnic acid delivered in ground usnea lichen prep; Mice: 0, 15, 30, 60, 180, 360 ppm usnic acid delivered in ground usnea lichen prep.