Solvent system impact on polyphenolic Content measurement and antioxidant potential of three common Kumaun Himalayan macrolichens

Shashi Upadhyay, Amit Bahukhandi, Arun Kumar Jugran, Yogesh Joshi,Indra Dutt Bhatt & Ranbeer Singh Rawal

Sydowia 69: 123–129

Published online on September 25th, 2017

Lichens, one among the lower group of living organism able to survive in harsh climatic conditions, produce several chemical compounds, which might have disease curing/health promoting properties. They can be considered as a repository of natural bioactive compounds or a promising source of many secondary metabolites. In the present study, screening of total phenolics, tannins, flavonols and antioxidant activity of the three common Kumaun Himalayan macrolichens Everniastrum cirrhatum, Lobaria retigera and Flavoparmelia caperata in different solvents i.e. methanol, acetone, acetonitrile and distilled water was performed. The Polyphenolic content varied significantly in different solvent extracts. Maximum total phenolic content was recorded in L. retigera [55.42 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/10g dry weight (dw) in distilled water extract]; however highest tannin [101.47 mg tannic acid equivalent (TAE)/10g dw in acetone extract] and flavonol content [17.54 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/10g dw in methanol extract] were found in E. cirrhatum. In ABTS assay, the maximum [39.96 mM ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/100g dw] antioxidant activity was exhibited by L. retigera extract in distilled water, while the minimum (14.65 mM AAE/100g dw) was found in methanolic extract of L. retigera. In DPPH assay, the maximum (20.88 mM AAE/100g dw) antioxidant activity was shown by distilled water extract of L. retigera, and minimum (13.23 mM AAE/100g dw) by acetone extract of F. caperata. The acetone extract of L. retigera showed maximum (7.10 mM AAE/100g dw) activity in FRAP assay, while acetonitrile extract of E. cirrhatum exhibited minimum (0.34 mM AAE/100g dw) activity. Among the studied species the extracts of L. retigera have maximum antioxidant activity and total phenolic content in distilled water; therefore, this species can be promoted as a potential source of natural antioxidants and a protective agent against degenerative diseases.

Keywords: Everniastrum cirrhatum, Flavoparmelia caperata, Lobaria retigera, Kumaun Himalaya, polyphenols, secondary metabolites.

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