Phytochemical study and antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities of Melanelia subaurifera and Melanelia fuliginosa lichens

The aim of this study was to investigate antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancerous activity of Melanelia subaurifera and Melanelia fuliginosa. The phytochemical analysis was determined by HPLC–UV method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and reducing power assay while antimicrobial activity was determined by minimal inhibitory concentration. The cytotoxic activity was tested using MTT method. The method for quantification of 2′-O-methyl anziaic acid and lecanoric acid in these lichens using RF-HPLC was also developed and validated. The depsides (lecanoric acid, gyrophoric acid, atranorin, anziaic acid and 2′-O-methyl anziaic acid), and dibenzofurane (usnic acid) were identified in these lichens. The antioxidant activity (IC50) of lichens extracts ranged from 121.52 to 424.51 μg/ml. 2′-O-Methyl anziaic acid showed the highest antimicrobial activity with MIC ranging from 0.0625 to 1 mg/ml. M. subaurifera extract showed the highest cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines (IC50 = 9.88 to 31.64 μg/ml).