PJB-2018-436
PHARMACOLOGICAL APTITUDE OF ENIGMATIC LICHEN PARAGON FROM HIMALAYAN COMMUNITIES, PAKISTAN.
SUMMAIRA SHAHEEN
Abstract
Abstract
The development of new antimicrobial compounds is a vital subject to meet the evolution of resistivity of pathogens against available drugs. Lichens are valuable natural resources used for centuries all over the world for different purposes. Lichens are notorious prolific sources of biologically active natural products. Thus, our research study explores the biological activities of lichen acids and aims to identify their bioactive metabolites. This study investigates the distribution, antibacterial, antifungal and antitumor activities of the acetone, ethanol and water extracts of eleven lichens Cladonia furcate, Flavoparmelia caperata, Protoparmeliopsis muralis, Umbilicaria polyphylla, Umbilicaria vellea, Xanthoria elegans, Xanthoria parietina, Hypogymnia physodes, Menegazzia terebrata, Parmelia sulcate and Parmotrema tinctorum from Himalayan region of Pakistan. Six bacterial strains used in this study were Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Nine fungal strains were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Botrytis cinerea, Candida albicans, Fusarium oxysporum, Mucor mucedo, Paecilomyces variotii, Penicillium purpurescens and Trichoderma harsianum. The antibacterial activity was studied by disc diffusion assay. The zone of inhibition of these lichen extracts were in range 7 to 35 mm in diameter. Bacillus mycoides and Bacillus subtilis are most resistant and sensitive bacteria respectively. Candida albicans and Fusarium oxysporum are most resistant and sensitive fungi respectively. In potato disc assay, most of the acetone and ethanol extracts of lichens showed significant (inhibition ≥ 20%) antitumor activity. acetone and ethanol extracts of Flavoparmelia caperata showed maximum (43% and 39%) and Cladonia furcata minimum tumor inhibition (7% and 5%). Qualitative phytochemical analysis from the Acetone and ethanol extracts also displayed bioactive compounds like Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Phenols, Steroids, Saponins, Glycoside, Flavonoids, Proteins, Triterpene Carbohydrates and Tannins.
Overall most of the extracts are more active then commercial drugs. More than 55% lichen extracts in case of bacteria and more than 60% against fungi were reported as active and very active. The lichen crude extracts were also active even at lower volumes against both microorganisms.
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