Abstract

HARNESSING LICHEN-DERIVED SILVER NANOPARTICLES: A MULTI-TARGETED APPROACH AGAINST DIABETES, INFLAMMATION AND BACTERIA

Santhiya R., P. Chitra, R. Ragunathan* and Jesteena Johney

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Abstract

Lichens, renowned for their diverse symbiotic nature, have emerged as a valuable source of bioactive compounds with significant medicinal potential. In recent years, lichen-derived nanoparticles have garnered increasing attention for their promising therapeutic applications. This study investigates the anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles synthesized from the lichen species Parmotrema austrosinense, collected from Gudalur in the Nilgiri district, TamilNadu, India. The nanoparticles were synthesized using lichen extract and characterized through various analytical techniques such as UV, FTIR and SEM analysis. Antidiabetic activity was evaluated using alpha-amylase and alphaglucosidase inhibition assays, both of which exhibited substantial enzyme inhibition. Anti-inflammatory potential was assessed through protein denaturation and trypsin inhibition assays, where the nanoparticles effectively mitigated protein denaturation and suppressed trypsin activity. Additionally, antibacterial efficacy was tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, demonstrating a pronounced zone of inhibition. These findings suggest that silver nanoparticles derived from Parmotrema austrosinense possess significant pharmacological properties, highlighting their potential for developing novel therapeutic agents for diabetes, inflammation, and bacterial infections.

Keywords: Parmotrema austrosinense, Silver Nanoparticles, Lichen, Anti-Diabetic Activity, Anti-Inflammatory Activity, Antibacterial Activity.