biostudies-literatureUnknown12(7)Aman SAllomelanin is a nitrogen-free class of melanin commonly found in plants and fungi. Although synthetic analogs have been developed from 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (1,8-DHN), detailed physicochemical comparisons with natural allomelanins remain limited. Herein, we extracted allomelanin from black knot fungus, chaga mushroom, and black oat using an acid-base extraction protocol, comparing them against a library of synthetic analogs derived from a range of putative, natural precursors. Spectroscopic analyses indicate that simple homopolymerization of 1,8-DHN does not adequately represent natural allomelanin structures. Instead, heterogeneous copolymerization of 1,8-DHN with catechol or tannic acid yields materials with physicochemical properties more consistent with natural extracts. This is alScience advanceseady4848https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12904162biostudies-literatureExploring allomelanin: A comparative analysis via natural product extraction and synthesis.PMC12904162Siwicka ZEWasielewski MRKalaj BNKaranjkar PLatawiec EIGianneschi NCFarha OKSu SLa Clair JJAman SDhinojwala ABurkart MDIrie LMfalseExploring allomelanin: A comparative analysis via natural product extraction and synthesis.Allomelanin is a nitrogen-free class of melanin commonly found in plants and fungi. Although synthetic analogs have been developed from 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (1,8-DHN), detailed physicochemical comparisons with natural allomelanins remain limited. Herein, we extracted allomelanin from black knot fungus, chaga mushroom, and black oat using an acid-base extraction protocol, comparing them against a library of synthetic analogs derived from a range of putative, natural precursors. Spectroscopic analyses indicate that simple homopolymerization of 1,8-DHN does not adequately represent natural allomelanin structures. Instead, heterogeneous copolymerization of 1,8-DHN with catechol or tannic acid yields materials with physicochemical properties more consistent with natural extracts. This is al2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Feb2026-07-15T18:04:16.186Z2026-07-08T03:08:31.976ZS-EPMC129041624168688610.1126/sciadv.ady4848