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Lichen Usnea sp. is one of the sources of natural bioactive compounds which are currently being developed as medicinal ingredients. The purpose of this study was the isolation and identification of secondary metabolites from methanol extract, toxicity test and antioxidant activity of Usnea sp. Lichen was isolated by maceration using methanol solven...
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... in Fig. 4 and obtained a spectrum showing the similarity of data for the compound usnic acid 23,36 . In previous studies, we have reported that the compoundusnic acid Usnea longissima Ach. 21,37 . Usnic acid is one of the main contents of lichen Usnea sp. which has many benefits in the pharmacological field. The structural formula can be seen in Fig. 5, and data interpretation shown in Table ...
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... 10 Usnic acid has also been shown to have a high capacity to scavenge superoxide radicals in methanol extracts of usnic acid isolated from lichen species. 11 Investigating the anti-cancer effects of natural substances with antioxidant properties and high bioactivity and determining their effects on cellular processes are important. This study investigates the proliferative and apoptotic effects of usnic acid application in DU145 cells and additionally examines the possible effects of usnic acid applications on p50 and p65 expression in the NF-κB pathway. ...
Secondary metabolites are a class of outwardly directed differentiation products of regular cellular metabolism that can operate as chemical messengers across organisms and species. They are molecules largely engaged in the maintenance/homeostasis of the organism. Secondary metabolites influence health-maintenance functions. Utilizing secondary metabolites has proven to be particularly successful in detecting some of the most prevalent food-spoilage fungus, including Penicillium species, Aspergillus species, and Fusarium species. Secondary products are uncommon, low-molecular-weight molecules that are structurally like primary metabolites but have a more restricted distribution than primary metabolites. Lichens are the natural result of a partnership between fungi (the Mycobionts’ partner) and algae (the host of the association). The stability of the secondary metabolites of lichens separates them from other species. Lichens can be both beneficial and hazardous to humans, depending on the location. They assist humanity in numerous ways, including feed and food, medicine, and industrial applications. In France, several lichens are used to make chocolates and pastries, while others are used medicinally. Curry powder made from Parmelia species can be found in Indian cuisine, while Endocarpon miniatum is used as a vegetable in Japan and Evernia prunastri is used to make bread in Egypt. The presence of lichenin, a polysaccharide, in Ramalina fraxinea, R. fastigiata, Evernia prunastri, and Lobaria pulmonaria lichens enables their use as animal feed. Parmelia saxatilis and Parmelia perlata are employed in the treatment of dyspepsia and epilepsy, respectively. Cladonia pyxidata is used to cure whooping cough, Xanthoria parietina is used to treat jaundice, and Pertusaria, Cladonia, and Cetraria are used to treat a variety of conditions. Ochrolechia androgyna and Ochrolechia tartaria are two plants that yield red and purple colors, respectively. Species of Ramalina and Evernia are used to extract the essential oils used to produce cosmetic soap. Some lichens, such as Amphiloma and Cladonia, parasitize mosses and, if left unchecked, can entirely decimate moss colonies. Some secondary compounds produced by lichens, such as anthraquinone pigments, are commonly present in both lichens and free-living fungi. The low levels of bacterial production allow for rapid mutation, selection of resistant strains, and horizontal transmission of resistance genes. Extracts of Usnea ghattensis, Parmotrem pseudotinctorum, Hypogymnia physodes, Lasallia pustulosa, and Parmelia caperata exhibited antioxidant activity. The majority of lichen species are terrestrial, whereas only a handful are found in the ocean
The biological activities of lichens, known as organisms based on a symbiotic relationship, are attracting more and more attention in traditional medicine and modern drug research. Lichens can possess various pharmacological effects such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and many others due to the bioactive compounds they contain. In the present study, Usnea longissima Ach. and its secondary metabolite, usnic acid on human gastric adenocarcinoma cells (AGS), human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2), and mouse fibroblasts (NIH/3T3) were investigated. In this context, methanol and water extracts from U. longissima were obtained by Soxhlet extractor. The characterization of usnic acid was carried out by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The cytotoxic activities of the extracts and the metabolite on cells were determined by 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) analysis. Considering the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values, the application with the greater effect on AGS and NIH/3T3 cells was the methanol extract (373.17 µg/ml and 318.81 µg/ml, respectively). Considering the Caco-2 cells, it was determined that the water extract had the lowest IC50 value (230.05 µg/ml). The high cytotoxic activity of usnic acid on cancer cells (AGS; IC50: 395.03 µg/ml and Caco-2; IC50: 462.35 µg/ml) compared to normal cell (NIH/3T3; IC50: 472.41 µg/ml) was noted. As a result, it has been revealed that methanol and water extracts of U. longissima, especially usnic acid, are products that can be used within the scope of complementary therapy.
