Current Results on Biological Activities of Lichen Secondary Metabolites: a Review

Lichens are symbiotic organisms of fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. Lichen-forming fungi synthesize a great variety of secondary metabolites, many of which are unique. Developments in analytical techniques and experimental methods have resulted in the identification of about 1050 lichen substances (including those found in cultures). In addition to their role in lichen chemotaxonomy and systematics, lichen secondary compounds have several possible biological roles, including photoprotection against intense radiation, as well as allelochemical, antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial, antiherbivore, and antioxidant action. These compounds are also important factors in metal homeostasis and pollution tolerance of lichen thalli. Although our knowledge of the contribution of these extracellular products to the success of the lichen symbiosis has increased significantly in the last decades, their biotic and abiotic roles have not been entirely explored.

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Secondary chemistry of cultured mycobionts: formation of a complete chemosyndrome by the lichen fungus of Lobaria spathulata

The Lichenologist ◽

10.1006/lich.2002.0395 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 351-359 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Elfie Stocker-Wörgötter ◽

John A. Elix

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Secondary Compounds ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Model System ◽

Nutrient Requirements ◽

Nutrient Media ◽

Secondary Chemistry ◽

Lichen Substances ◽

Lichen Thallus ◽

Lichen Fungus

AbstractThe study aimed to optimize culture conditions and nutrient requirements for theproduction of secondary metabolites by the cultured mycobiont Lobaria spathulata. This species proved to be an excellent model system for such studies, as the complete chemosyndromefound in the natural lichen thallus was repeatedly formed in the cultured mycobiont with differentiated, aerial mycelia. Nutrient media containing the disaccharide, sucrose, were found to favour both rapid growth and the production of typical lichen substances. Higher proportions of the secondary compounds were detected in the developing mycobiont than in mature lichen thalli.

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Diagnosis of Biological Activities by Mass Spectrometry

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/proceedings2019011036 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 36

Author(s):

Vincent Carré ◽

Pierre Leroy ◽

Patrick Chaimbault

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Food Intake ◽

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Structural Information ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Analytical Techniques ◽

Active Metabolites ◽

Cell Defense ◽

Oxidative Reactions

Oxidative reactions are vital but also cause important stresses and cellular damages resulting in cancers, cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases. Antioxidant secondary metabolites from plant can be mobilized for the cell defense and their main source is precisely the food intake such as vegetables, fruits or beverages. Screening natural active metabolites in plants requires different analytical techniques among which mass spectrometry became one of the most popular, not just because of its ability to provide structural information on involved molecules but also because this technique belongs to the arsenal of diagnostic tool for the determination of biological activities.

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Preliminary results of spectrophotometric screening of secondary metabolites accumulation in lichen thalloms

Samara Journal of Science ◽

10.17816/snv201763101 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 10-15

Author(s):

Maria Vladimirovna Gorina ◽

Lyudmila Mikhailovna Kavelenova ◽

Svetlana Alexandrovna Platonova

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Secondary Compounds ◽

Spectrophotometric Study ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Natural Forests ◽

Initial Stage ◽

Xanthoria Parietina ◽

Species Specific ◽

Symbiotic Organisms ◽

Microclimate Conditions

This paper discusses the influence of biotopic conditions on the secondary compounds accumulation in lichen thalloms. Secondary metabolites inherent in the metabolism of various groups of organisms are widely represented in symbiotic organisms - lichens, with a significant number of these compounds being phenolic derivatives. The authors of the paper present the results of spectrophotometric scanning of alcohol extracts from lichen thalloms of three species: Xanthoria parietina (L.) Belt., Parmelia sulcata Tayl., Vulpicida pinastri (Scop.) J.-E. Mattsson M.J. Lai, sampled in different forest communities of the Krasnosamarsky forest (Samara Region), in 9 plots, where plant communities were fragments of natural forests (birch, aspen, linden, oak) and forest stands. Forest communities differed in their position in the relief, the composition of the arboreal stage, associated with the height and closeness of the plantations to microclimate conditions. The extracts obtained by infusion of 96% ethanol samples were analyzed using the AZURA UV / VIS UVD 2.1 L detector (190-750 nm, Knauer) in the laboratory of Chemistry Department of Samara University to obtain absorption spectra in the UV region using the ClarityChrom program. The study can be considered as an initial stage of bioecological screening, which makes it possible to ascertain the dependence of the secondary metabolites accumulation on habitat parameters in relation to the conditions of forest ecosystems in different parts of the Samara Region. The spectrophotometric study of the extracts demonstrated the presence of species-specific features of the spectra, indicating the differences in the qualitative composition of the extracts. For extracts obtained from samples of lichens were found spectra differences: quantitative - for all the species, and also qualitative - for Xanthoria parietina and Vulpicida pinastri extracts, related to qualitative and quantitative differences in the accumulation of secondary metabolites. These differences are presumably associated with differences in the biotopic conditions of growth of the thalli of the three studied lichen species.

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Mysterious World of Lichens: Highlights on Their History, Applications, and Pharmaceutical Potentials

The Natural Products Journal ◽

10.2174/2210315510666200128123237 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Author(s):

Waill A. Elkhateeb ◽

Ghoson M. Daba ◽

Donia Sheir ◽

The-Duy Nguyen ◽

Kalani K. Hapuarachchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Nutritional Value ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Crystal Form ◽

Environmental Research ◽

Symbiotic Association ◽

Wide Range ◽

Lichen Substances ◽

History Of ◽

History Of Use

Background: Lichens play an important role in many ecosystems and exist as a symbiotic association between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. This symbiosis results in production of unique secondary metabolites known as lichen substances, which arise within the thalli and are typically in crystal form on the surface of the fungal hyphae. Recently, lichens and their secondary metabolites have been receiving increased attention due to their nutritional value and pharmaceutical potential. Objectives: This review aims to cast a light on the importance and variety of common lichen substances (secondary metabolites), which are investigated along with their historical and contemporary applications, use in environmental research and discussion of the commercialisation of lichens-based products. Methods: The literature, including research and reviews articles, was analysed and the information was compiled to provide a complete review of Lichens. A desk-based study to elucidate the role of lichens in commercial products was also undertaken. Results: Analysis of metabolites, mostly secondary metabolites, have yielded a wide range of interesting compounds with biological activities from antimicrobial to anticancer. 31 of these compounds are discussed in detail. Further, the nutritional value of lichens is identified alongside a role in environmental monitoring and a number of commercialised lichen-based products are located. Conclusions: Lichens are found on every continent and have a history of use as food, medicine, dyes and livestock feed. The pharmaceutical potential of lichens is high and several companies are now attempting to commercialise these unique attributes.

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A review on various classes of secondary metabolites and biological activities of Lamiaceae (Labiatae) (2002-2018)

Journal of advanced Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.21608/jabps.2020.38318.1095 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

pp. 0-0

Author(s):

Ashraf Hamed ◽

nousiba ahmed ◽

Eman Attia ◽

Samar Desoukey

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Biological Activities

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Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from Endophytic Fungi

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867326666190916144709 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (11) ◽

pp. 1836-1854 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Elena Ancheeva ◽

Georgios Daletos ◽

Peter Proksch

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Endophytic Fungi ◽

Host Plants ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Cytotoxic Agents ◽

Special Focus ◽

Plant Metabolites ◽

Direct Production ◽

Bioactive Secondary Metabolites ◽

Fungal Genes

Background: Endophytes represent a complex community of microorganisms colonizing asymptomatically internal tissues of higher plants. Several reports have shown that endophytes enhance the fitness of their host plants by direct production of bioactive secondary metabolites, which are involved in protecting the host against herbivores and pathogenic microbes. In addition, it is increasingly apparent that endophytes are able to biosynthesize medicinally important “phytochemicals”, originally believed to be produced only by their host plants. Objective: The present review provides an overview of secondary metabolites from endophytic fungi with pronounced biological activities covering the literature between 2010 and 2017. Special focus is given on studies aiming at exploration of the mode of action of these metabolites towards the discovery of leads from endophytic fungi. Moreover, this review critically evaluates the potential of endophytic fungi as alternative sources of bioactive “plant metabolites”. Results: Over the past few years, several promising lead structures from endophytic fungi have been described in the literature. In this review, 65 metabolites are outlined with pronounced biological activities, primarily as antimicrobial and cytotoxic agents. Some of these metabolites have shown to be highly selective or to possess novel mechanisms of action, which hold great promises as potential drug candidates. Conclusion: Endophytes represent an inexhaustible reservoir of pharmacologically important compounds. Moreover, endophytic fungi could be exploited for the sustainable production of bioactive “plant metabolites” in the future. Towards this aim, further insights into the dynamic endophyte - host plant interactions and origin of endophytic fungal genes would be of utmost importance.

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Associated microflora of medicinal ferns: biotechnological potentials and possible applications

International Journal of Bioassays ◽

10.21746/ijbio.2016.03.0017 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 (03) ◽

pp. 4927 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shubhi Srivastava ◽

Paul A. K.

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Hydrolytic Enzymes ◽

In Vitro Production ◽

Wide Range ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Bacteria And Fungi

Plant associated microorganisms that colonize the upper and internal tissues of roots, stems, leaves and flowers of healthy plants without causing any visible harmful or negative effect on their host. Diversity of microbes have been extensively studied in a wide variety of vascular plants and shown to promote plant establishment, growth and development and impart resistance against pathogenic infections. Ferns and their associated microbes have also attracted the attention of the scientific communities as sources of novel bioactive secondary metabolites. The ferns and fern alleles, which are well adapted to diverse environmental conditions, produce various secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, phenols, triterpenoid compounds, variety of amino acids and fatty acids along with some unique metabolites as adaptive features and are traditionally used for human health and medicine. In this review attention has been focused to prepare a comprehensive account of ethnomedicinal properties of some common ferns and fern alleles. Association of bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere and endosphere of these medicinally important ferns and their interaction with the host plant has been emphasized keeping in view their possible biotechnological potentials and applications. The processes of host-microbe interaction leading to establishment and colonization of endophytes are less-well characterized in comparison to rhizospheric and phyllospheric microflora. However, the endophytes are possessing same characteristics as rhizospheric and phyllospheric to stimulate the in vivo synthesis as well as in vitro production of secondary metabolites with a wide range of biological activities such as plant growth promotion by production of phytohormones, siderophores, fixation of nitrogen, and phosphate solubilization. Synthesis of pharmaceutically important products such as anticancer compounds, antioxidants, antimicrobials, antiviral substances and hydrolytic enzymes could be some of the promising areas of research and commercial exploitation.

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Chemical Diversity and Biological Activity of Secondary Metabolites from Soft Coral Genus Sinularia since 2013

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md19060335 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 335

Author(s):

Xia Yan ◽

Jing Liu ◽

Xue Leng ◽

Han Ouyang

Keyword(s):

Biological Activity ◽

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Coral Species ◽

Soft Coral ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Vital Role ◽

Chemical Diversity ◽

Pharmacological Activities ◽

Lead Compounds ◽

Coral Genus

Sinularia is one of the conspicuous soft coral species widely distributed in the world’s oceans at a depth of about 12 m. Secondary metabolites from the genus Sinularia show great chemical diversity. More than 700 secondary metabolites have been reported to date, including terpenoids, norterpenoids, steroids/steroidal glycosides, and other types. They showed a broad range of potent biological activities. There were detailed reviews on the terpenoids from Sinularia in 2013, and now, it still plays a vital role in the innovation of lead compounds for drug development. The structures, names, and pharmacological activities of compounds isolated from the genus Sinularia from 2013 to March 2021 are summarized in this review.

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