The antimicrobial activity of substances derived from the lichens Physcia aipolia, Umbilicaria polyphylla, Parmelia caperata and Hypogymnia physodes

In this study, in vitro antimicrobial activity of the physodic acid, usnic acid, atranorin and gyrophoric acid isolated from the lichens Hypogymnia physodes, Parmelia caperata, Physcia aipolia and Umbilicaria polyphylla, has been investigated. An antibiotic assessment was done against six bacteria (three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative) and eight fungi by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) by the broth tube dilution method. The tested lichen substances inhibited growth of all the tested microorganisms. The bacteria showed a higher sensitivity against the tested fungi. The highest antimicrobial activity was found in the usnic acid of the Parmelia caperata lichen, where the lowest MIC was 0.0037 mg/ml against the Klebsiella pneumoniae (even lower than the one given by the streptomycin standard). The weakest antimicrobial activity was found in the physodic acid, which inhibited most of the microorganisms in the concentration of 1 mg/ml. Generally, all the components had relatively strong antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms, among which were human and animal pathogens. This could be of significance for their use for pharmaceutical purposes.