(+)-Totarol

(+)-Totarol is a diterpenoid membrane-disrupting agent and membrane structure regulator found in plants of the genus Podocarpus spp. (+)-Totarol inserts into phospholipid model membranes, disrupts phospholipid packing, and impairs the functional integrity of membranes. (+)-Totarol exhibits antibacterial activity against a variety of bacterial species and β-lactam-resistant strains, and its action is associated with changes in membrane physical properties. (+)-Totarol can be used in studies related to bacterial infections^[1][2]. In Vitro:(+)-totarol (0.5-35 mol%) dose-dependently modulates the phase transitions of DEPE vesicles, eliminating the L_α→H_II transition at concentrations above 2 mol% and inducing complex low-temperature phase behavior between 5-35 mol%^[2].
(+)-totarol (5-30 mol%) decreases DMPC bilayer structural order below the main phase transition temperature and increases order above the transition temperature, completely abolishing the transition-associated anisotropy change at 30 mol%^[2].