Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF EDIBLE LICHEN PARMOTREMA FROM VATHAL HILLS OF DHARMAPURI DISTRICT TAMIL NADU

Mariappan Senthilkumar*

Abstract

Lichens are some of the most fascinating and widespread life forms on the planet. Their fundamental make up alone inspires the imagination as they are not one single organism but at least two. Lichens are fungi that live in intimate symbiotic association with green algae or cyanobacteria. From which 25 extracts were prepared using Hexane, Benzene, Chloroform, Ethyl acetate, and Ethanol solvents. Preliminary phytochemical screening for the presence of Tannins, Alkaloids, Saponins, Glycosides, Flavonoids, Proteins, Triterpenes, Carbohydrates and Steroids was carried out on aforesaid extracts. Important phytochemicals like Tannins, Proteins, Carbohydrates and Steroids were present in most of the lichen extracts tested. Hexane and benzene extracts did not show any phytochemicals. Saponins were present only in all extracts. Ethanolic extract was showed almost all tested phytochemicals in all the lichen samples. Lichen samples were identified based on bioactive compounds present on thallus by colour spot test analysis. The results indicate the present of Atranorin and chloroatranorin; lecanoric acid, stictic acid, constictic acid, norstictic, menegazziaic and cryptostictic acids. Quantification of phytochemicals and its Rf values were calculated by thin layer chromatographic analysis and profiles yielded the different pattern of compounds with their Rf values. The ethanol extract of lichen species have tested and two different types of solvent systems were used to evaluate better elution of compounds. Varying number of bands was viewed under different excitation of lights such as white light, post derivation in iodine chamber, short UV 254 nm and long UV 366 nm.

Keywords: Parmotrema, Vathal hills, Eastern Ghats.