Cytogenetic and oxidative effects of three lichen extracts on human peripheral lymphocytes

In the present study, we investigated cytogenetic and oxidative [total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS)] effects of methanol and water extracts of Cladonia chlorophaea (Florke ex Sommerf.) Sprengel, Dermatocarpon miniatum (L.) W.Mann and Parmelia saxatilis (L.) Ach. on cultured human lymphocytes. In addition, different phenolic compounds in the extracts were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. As a result of HPLC analysis, methanol extracts of all lichen species tested had higher phenolic compounds. Likewise, methanol extracts of each lichen increased TAC levels in lymphocytes more than water extracts. The TOS levels of the cells treated with different concentrations (1-100 mg/L) of the extracts decreased due to the increasing concentration of the extracts. Genotoxicity experiments revealed that the tested lichen extracts did not significantly increase (p > 0.05) the level of genotoxicity on human peripheral lymphocyte culture compared to the negative control group. The results showed that C. chlorophaea, D. miniatum and P. saxatilis lichens, which were found to be a rich source of phenolic compounds, might be of interest in the pharmaceutical and food industries.