In vitro Antioxidant Activities of Lichen Species Dirinaria applanata and Parmotrema andium Collected from Similipal Biosphere Reserve, India

Lichens appear to be a promising source of antioxidants due to presence of numerous metabolites that can reduce free radicals. The Lichen species were obtained from Similipal biosphere Reserve (SBR). The antioxidant activity was carried out by DPPH, H2O2, FRAP scavenging assay and further TPC and TFC was also estimated. Among the lichens tested, Dirinaria applanata exhibited strong antioxidant activities than Parmotrema andium. The methanol and acetone extracts of D. applanata showed DPPH radical scavenging activities (IC50 value) as 471.16±0.85μg/ml and 519.79±1.29μg/ml whereas in P. andium IC50 value was 534.77±0.75μg/ml and 600.77±0.95μg/ml respectively. Similar result was also observed in H2O2 scavenging assay and FRAP. An interesting strong relationship between total phenolic and flavonoid contents and their antioxidant activities in both the Lichen species was marked as determined with respect to gallic acid and quercetin equivalents. The results indicates that the selected lichen species possess significant antioxidant activity which may be utilized as novel sources of natural antioxidant compounds.