<i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> (Jacq) Bory: Metabolites and Biological Activities
Background: Lichens are complex symbiotic associations between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium. Due to their great adaptability to the environment, they have managed to colonize many terrestrial habitats, presenting a worldwide distribution from the poles to the tropical regions and from the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/21/7317 |
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| author | María Jesús Vega-Bello Mari Luz Moreno Rossana Estellés-Leal José Miguel Hernández-Andreu Jesús A. Prieto-Ruiz |
| author_facet | María Jesús Vega-Bello Mari Luz Moreno Rossana Estellés-Leal José Miguel Hernández-Andreu Jesús A. Prieto-Ruiz |
| author_sort | María Jesús Vega-Bello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Lichens are complex symbiotic associations between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium. Due to their great adaptability to the environment, they have managed to colonize many terrestrial habitats, presenting a worldwide distribution from the poles to the tropical regions and from the plains to the highest mountains. In the flora of the Antarctic region, lichens stand out due to their variety and development and are a potential source of new bioactive compounds. Methods: A phytochemical study of the Antarctic lichen <i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> (Jacq) Bory was conducted with the intention of determining the most important metabolites. In addition, the cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of its extracts were determined. Results: Cytotoxicity studies revealed that the hexane extract contains usnic acid as a majority metabolite, in addition to linoleic acid, ergosterols and terpenes, and demonstrates cytotoxic activity against an A375 melanoma cell line. On the other hand, the presence of total phenols in the extracts did not influence their antioxidant activity. Conclusions: <i>U. aurantiaco-atra</i> contains mainly usnic acid, although there are terpenes and ergosta compounds that could be responsible for its cytotoxic activity. The presence of phenols did not confer antioxidant properties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:25:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-999fa452497a4ff5835807967af1facd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:25:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-999fa452497a4ff5835807967af1facd2023-11-10T15:08:35ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-10-012821731710.3390/molecules28217317<i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> (Jacq) Bory: Metabolites and Biological ActivitiesMaría Jesús Vega-Bello0Mari Luz Moreno1Rossana Estellés-Leal2José Miguel Hernández-Andreu3Jesús A. Prieto-Ruiz4Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia “San Vicente Mártir”, C/Quevedo 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Anatomy and Physiology, Catholic University of Valencia “San Vicente Mártir”, C/Quevedo 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia “San Vicente Mártir”, C/Quevedo 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia “San Vicente Mártir”, C/Quevedo 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia “San Vicente Mártir”, C/Quevedo 2, 46001 Valencia, SpainBackground: Lichens are complex symbiotic associations between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium. Due to their great adaptability to the environment, they have managed to colonize many terrestrial habitats, presenting a worldwide distribution from the poles to the tropical regions and from the plains to the highest mountains. In the flora of the Antarctic region, lichens stand out due to their variety and development and are a potential source of new bioactive compounds. Methods: A phytochemical study of the Antarctic lichen <i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> (Jacq) Bory was conducted with the intention of determining the most important metabolites. In addition, the cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of its extracts were determined. Results: Cytotoxicity studies revealed that the hexane extract contains usnic acid as a majority metabolite, in addition to linoleic acid, ergosterols and terpenes, and demonstrates cytotoxic activity against an A375 melanoma cell line. On the other hand, the presence of total phenols in the extracts did not influence their antioxidant activity. Conclusions: <i>U. aurantiaco-atra</i> contains mainly usnic acid, although there are terpenes and ergosta compounds that could be responsible for its cytotoxic activity. The presence of phenols did not confer antioxidant properties.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/21/7317antioxidant activitycytotoxicityphenolic metabolites<i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i>usnic acid |
| spellingShingle | María Jesús Vega-Bello Mari Luz Moreno Rossana Estellés-Leal José Miguel Hernández-Andreu Jesús A. Prieto-Ruiz <i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> (Jacq) Bory: Metabolites and Biological Activities Molecules antioxidant activity cytotoxicity phenolic metabolites <i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> usnic acid |
| title | <i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> (Jacq) Bory: Metabolites and Biological Activities |
| title_full | <i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> (Jacq) Bory: Metabolites and Biological Activities |
| title_fullStr | <i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> (Jacq) Bory: Metabolites and Biological Activities |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> (Jacq) Bory: Metabolites and Biological Activities |
| title_short | <i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> (Jacq) Bory: Metabolites and Biological Activities |
| title_sort | i usnea aurantiaco atra i jacq bory metabolites and biological activities |
| topic | antioxidant activity cytotoxicity phenolic metabolites <i>Usnea aurantiaco-atra</i> usnic acid |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/21/7317 |
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