Lichens form an important floral community, playing an
important role in ecological succession. The Western Ghats harbour a number of
plant resources including lichens, mosses and other lower plants. The present
study was conducted to determine anticaries activity of solvent extracts of a
macrolichen Usnea pictoides G. Awasthi (Parmeliaceae) collected at
Mullayanagiri, Western Ghats of Chikmagalur district, Karnataka, India. The
lichen material was sequentially extracted using solvents viz., petroleum ether,
ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol in a soxhlet assembly. Anticaries
activity of solvent extracts was determined against four clinical isolates of
Streptococcus mutans (recovered from dental caries subjects) by Agar well
diffusion assay. All solvent extracts were effective against the clinical
isolates. High inhibitory potential was observed in case of chloroform extract.
Thin layer chromatogram showed the presence of Usnic acid. Inhibitory effect
could be ascribed to the bioactive secondary metabolites, mainly Usnic acid
present in the lichen. Purification of bioactive principles and determination
of their anticaries activity are to be conducted.
Author (s) Details
Dr. K. S.
Vinayaka Author (s) Details
Plant Science Laboratory, Department of Botany, Sri Venkataramana Swamy College, Vidyagiri, Bantwal-574211, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India.
View Book :- http://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/184
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