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Screening of antioxidant potential of Arctic lichens

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Abstract

Antioxidants are compounds that scavenge the free radicals produced in living organisms. The antioxidant potential of eight Arctic lichen species was evaluated in vitro using free radical scavenging activity (FRS), inhibition of lipid peroxidation (ILP), and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay (TEAC). FRS activities of lichen species in various organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, acetone, and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) were in the range 9.6–51.77%, while ILP activities in these solvents ranged from 32.5 to 82.43%. Pseudophebe pubescens showed the highest ILP (82.43%) and FRS (51.77%) activities as compared to other lichen species and the standard antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The TEAC value was also found to be higher in all species compared to the standard water soluble vitamin E analog Trolox (3.9 mM). The order of antioxidative activities in lichen species was Pseudophebe pubescens > Cladonia amaurocraea > Cladonia mediterranea > Physcia caesia > Flavocetraria nivalis > Cetraria fastigata > Xanthoria elegans > Umbilicaria hyperborea. This is the first report of the measurement of antioxidant potential in Arctic lichens.

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Acknowledgments

We are highly indebted to Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences, for encouragement and facilities. We express our gratitude to Prof. Peter Convey (British Antarctic Survey) for review and editing the English language and improving the quality of the manuscript. Thanks are also due to Dr. C.T. Achuthankutty, Dr. Renuka Badhe, and anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions. Author PS2 is thankful to Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, for financial support.

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  1. National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, 403 804, India

    Shiv M. Singh & Rasik Ravindra

  2. Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani K.K. Birla, Goa Campus, Zuarinagar, Goa, 403 726, India

    Purnima Singh

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  1. Shiv M. Singh
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Correspondence to Shiv M. Singh.

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Singh, S.M., Singh, P. & Ravindra, R. Screening of antioxidant potential of Arctic lichens. Polar Biol 34, 1775–1782 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-1027-9

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