Phytochemical composition and antitumor activity of a new arctic lichen

• Published in: Natural Product Research
• Main Authors: Đukić, Vojislav, Usman, Muhammad, Khalid, Abdul Nasir, Manojlović, Anja, Zarić, Milan, Čanović, Petar, Živković-Zarić, Radica, Manojlović, Nedeljko
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Atypon 2024
• Subjects: Anticancer; Cytotoxic activity; Deosai National Park; Gilgit-Baltistan; MTT Assay; Pakistan; Phytochemical Analyses; Arctic lichen
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2024.2365444; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38907658

For the first-time, chemical composition and in vitro antitumor activity was investigated of a newly described lichen Anamylopsora pakistanica Usman & Khalid from the second highest plateau of the world (Deosai Plains, Pakistan). HPLC-UV method was used for identification of secondary metabolites and the acetone extract had higher values of TPC (41.90 mg GA/g) and TFC (75.37 mg RE/g) as compared to methanol extract. As chemical constituents 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methylphthalide, haematommic acid and alectorialic acid, were identified as major compounds. Atranol, alectorialin, gyrophoric acid and usnic acid were detected as minor substances. Acetone and methanol extracts induced a dose-dependent and time-dependent decrease in the viability of three types of tumour cells HeLa, HCT116 and MDA-MB-231. This lichen extract can induce S phase arrest in HeLa as compared to the untreated cells. Extract of this unique lichen, A. pakistanica, can be used safely as a significant source of biologically active compounds.