Mycophenolic acid is a 2-benzofuran-1(3H)-one substituted at positions 4, 5, 6, and 7 with methyl, methoxy, (2E)-5-carboxy-3-methylpent-2-en-1-yl, and hydroxy groups, respectively. It is an antibiotic produced by Penicillium brevi-compactum, P. stoloniferum, P. echinulatum, and related species. As an immunosuppressant, it is widely used, particularly as its sodium salt and as the 2-(morpholin-4-yl)ethyl ester prodrug, mycophenolate mofetil, to prevent tissue rejection following organ transplants and for treating certain autoimmune diseases. It functions as an antineoplastic, antimicrobial, EC 1.1.1.205 (IMP dehydrogenase) inhibitor, immunosuppressive, mycotoxin, Penicillium metabolite, environmental contaminant, xenobiotic, and anticoronaviral agent. It is a gamma-lactone, a phenol, a monocarboxylic acid, and a member of 2-benzofurans. It is functionally related to hex-4-enoic acid and is the conjugate acid of mycophenolate.
