The evaluation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Parmotrema hypotropa lichen extract

TARTOUGA, Maya Abir; ELOUAR, Ibtissem; ZEGHINA, Ibtissem; MOKHTARI, Mohamed Badreddine; GALI, Lynda; RAPA, Shara Francesca; DE TOMMASI, Nunziatina; MARZOCCO, Stefania; BENSOUICI, Chawki

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2022.109501.5016

The evaluation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Parmotrema hypotropa lichen extract

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University Frères Mentouri Constantine 1, route Ain el bey 25000, Constantine Algeria.

² National Center in Biotechnological Research (CRBT), 25 000 Constantine, Algeria.

³ Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, I-84084 Fisciano, Italy.

10.21608/ejchem.2022.109501.5016

Abstract

Lichens are used since antiquity for multiple therapeutic purposes, treating infections, fever, convulsions, and wounds. This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the lichen Parmotrema hypotropa (NYL.) Hale. The total phenolics and flavonoids content were determined in ethanol extract; the antioxidant activity was assessed by different chemical assays DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), β-carotene-linoleic acid, reducing power, and Cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC). The lichen extract was further tested in vitro, for its anti-inflammatory effect through the bovine serum albumin denaturation assay; also the inflammatory response was investigated on the LPS-stimulated human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) by measuring intercellular ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) and TNF-α (Tumor necrosis factor-alpha) production; the amount of usnic acid in the extract was determined by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the tested extract contained high levels of total phenolics than flavonoids, and had an antioxidant effect; it prevented the protein denaturation in a dose-dependent manner, also reduced the intracellular ROS and TNF-α production by HaCaT cells. Furthermore, it did not affect the viability of HaCaT cells; the extract contained small amounts of usnic acid. Based on the different findings, P.hypotropa can constitute a potential source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

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