Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of two lichens species (Pseudevernia furfuracea L and Evernia prunastri L) collected from Morocco

The present study focused on the determination of phenolic compounds and screening of antioxidant activity of dichloromethane, acetone and methanol extracts of Evernia prunastri L and Pseudevernia furfuracea L growing in Morocco. For the identification of phenolic compounds, a HPLC-UV method was used. The antioxidant activity was performed in vitro by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) radical scavenging method and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assay. Total phenolic compounds and total flavonoid content of all the extracts were also determined. The predominant phenolic compounds were physodalic acid and evernic acid mainly in the acetone extracts of Pseudevernia furfuracea and Evernia prunastri, respectively and the highest antioxidant activity was obtained from the first one. A significant relationship between the antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents was found. This is the first report of the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Pseudevernia furfuracea and Evernia prunastri collected from Morocco. These Moroccan lichens might be used as potential sources of natural compounds with antioxidant activity suggesting other future research.