In vitro antioxidant activity of the Antarctic lichen Caloplacaregalis and its GC/MS based phytochemical analysis

Abstract

Antioxidant agents, which inhibit the destructive actions of free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS), are widely used as food additives as well as in medicines and cosmetics. Antioxidant agents derived from natural sources are believed to be safer than synthetic compounds. In order to identify a new potential source of natural antioxidant compounds, we evaluated various antiradical and antioxidant activities of an ethanolwater extract of Caloplaca regalis (Vain.) Zahlbr. (Teloschistaceae), a lichen collected from the Antarctica. The experimental data indicated that even the crude extract of C. regalis exhibited a significant potential to inhibit free radical production. The GC/MS analysis showed that C. regalis extract contained various derivatives of benzoic acids, furanone, anthraquinone and several fatty acids. In addition, the total phenolic content in the lichen extract was found to be more than 8% by weight. We conclude that C. regalis does indeed produce antioxidant active compounds, which would have much strong activities if tested in a purified form. Thus, further research should be conducted to purify and characterize the compounds responsible for the antioxidant activity of C. regalis extract, as these compounds may be an alternative source of medically relevant antioxidant. Keywords:eved to be safer than synthetic compounds. In order to identify a new potential source of natural antioxidant compounds, we evaluated various antiradical and antioxidant activities of an ethanolwater extract of Caloplaca regalis (Vain.) Zahlbr. (Teloschistaceae), a lichen collected from the Antarctica. The experimental data indicated that even the crude extract of C. regalis exhibited a significant potential to inhibit free radical production. The GC/MS analysis showed that C. regalis extract contained various derivatives of benzoic acids, furanone, anthraquinone and several fatty acids. In addition, the total phenolic content in the lichen extra