Background: Lichens have been widely used in conventional medicine and ethnobotany for years. They produce a variety of secondary metabolites and exhibit various biological activities. The objective of the study is to determine the chemical content of Collema lichens and evaluate their antioxidant activities.
Methods: Blennothallia crispa (Huds.) Otalora, P.M. Jorg. & Wedin (Collema crispum (Huds.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg.) (CCM), Lathagrium cristatum (L.) Otalora, M. M. Jorg & Wedin var. cristatum (Collema cristatum L. Weber ex F.H. Wigg.) (CoCM), and Enchylium polycarpon (Hoffm.) Otálora, Jørg. & Wedin (Collema polycarpon Hoffm.) (CPM) lichen materials were collected from Bursa province and were pre-treated under laboratory conditions. After the thalli of the samples were separated, they were ready for use. An ultrasonic bath was used for extraction and methanol was chosen as the solvent. Determination of carotenoid and phenolic substances was carried out by Liquid Chromatography-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (LC/QTOF/ MS). In vitro antioxidant activities of the 3 extracts were determined by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging methods, metal chelation method, and CUPRAC reducing power methods.
Results: According to the results, dihydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, quinic acid, epicatechin, evernic acid, usnic acid, rosmarinic acid, neoxanthin, o-coumaric acid, naringenin, and beta carotene were detected in all 3 extracts: CCM, CoCM, and CPM. It is seen that the most active extract in radical scavenging activity is CPM, with an IC50 value of 234.4 ± 0.21.
Conclusion: It was determined that the contents of the extracts contained substances of phenolic and carotenoid, and it can be concluded that CCM, CoCM, and CPM can all be used as natural antioxidants.
Cite this article as: Sümer Tüzün B & Öztürk Ş. (2024). Phytochemical investigations and antioxidant activities of Collema lichens. Trends in Pharmacy, 2024, 1, 23, doi: 10.5152/ TrendsPharm.2024.24023.