THE ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIGENOTOXIC POTENTIAL OF PELTIGERA CANINA AND UMBILICARIA NYLANDERIANA BASED ON THEIR PHENOLIC PROFILE

The present study aimed to assess the biological effects of methanol and water extracts obtained from Peltigera canina and Umbilicaria nylanderiana on human peripheral lymphocytes. Chromosome aberration and micronucleus tests evaluated genotoxicity levels of the extracts on the cells. In both tests, it was determined that the treatments at concentrations of 1 - 50 mg/L did not significantly increase genotoxicity. When investigating the total oxidative stress (TOS) levels of the cells exposed to the tested extracts, it was revealed that water extracts decreased TOS in the cells. In order to determine the antioxidant capacities of the extracts, DPPH radical scavenging, metal chelating, reducing power activities and besides, total antioxidant capacity in the cells were measured. Concentration-dependent increases were observed for each antioxidant activity. In addition, there were detected the main phenolic compounds in the extracts by an HPLC method. Consequently, it was revealed that lichen-derived extracts are worth investigating as possible antioxidative agents.