The biological evaluation of fusidic acid and its hydrogenation derivative as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents.

Background: Fusidic acid (FA) (WU-FA-00) is the only commercially available antimicrobial from the fusidane family that has a narrow spectrum of activity against Gram-positive bacteria.

Methods: Herein, the hydrogenation derivative (WU-FA-01) of FA was prepared and both compounds were examined against a panel of six bacterial strains. In addition, their anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated using a 12--tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema model.