Antioxidant potential of various fractions of lichen species of Gilgit-Baltistan, District Hunza-Nagar

Lichen species Caloplaca trachyphlla and Xanthoparmalia scabrosa were investigated for their antioxidant potential. The methanol extracts and various fractions of these plant species exhibited antioxidant activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and superoxide inhibitory activity. The radical scavenging activities of the crude extracts and various fractions were significant and more potent than the standard in some cases, as demonstrated by the IC50 values obtained. The medium polar fractions from both C. trachyphlla and X. scabrosa were found to be more potent than least polar and most polar fractions, these findings suggest that lichen from the Gilgit region exhibit significant and promising antioxidant properties. During this study usnic acid is also isolated for the first time from C. trachyphylla