EXTRACTS OF FIVE CLADONIA LICHENS AS SOURCES OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS

Five lichen species of Cladonia genus (C. fimbriata, C. furcata, C. subulata, C. foliacea and C. rangiferina) were examined. We described the chemical composition of the acetone extracts of the mentioned lichens and the antioxidant, antimicrobial and antitumor activities of their extracts. The phytochemical analysis was determined by HPLC-UV method. The depside (atranorin), depsidones (hypoprotocetraric acid and fumarprotocetraric acid) and dibenzofurane (usnic acid) were identified from these lichens. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the scavenging capacity of tested samples on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, reducing power of samples and determination of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds in extracts. As a result of the antioxidant activity C. furcata showed the largest effect. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against five bacterial and 10 fungi was established. The extract of lichen C. fimbriata showed the strongest antibacterial activity (MC values ranging from 0.625 to 20 mg/mL) while, extract of the lichen C. subulata showed the strongest antifungal activity (MC values were 0.625 - 20 mg/mL). Cytotoxic activity was tested using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and all samples were found to be strong anticancer activity toward used cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 11.69 to 140.13 mu g/mL.