Biotransformation of abietic acid by 28 different microorganisms were screened. Resulting abietic acid metabolites were characterized by chromatospectral techniques. In vitro antimicrobial and anticancer activities of abietic acid and its metabolites were evaluated. For the selectivity, toxicity and genotoxicity of abietic acid and its derivatives were compared. All compounds were evaluated for their DNA synthesis inhibition as well as against A549 and HepG2 cancer cell lines.