Uploaded byMamta Bhat
LICHENS AND HUMAN WELFARE
The document discusses the various roles and benefits of lichens, highlighting their significance in medicine, dyes, and other applications. It describes the symbiotic relationship between fungi and photobionts while outlining various lichen species and their uses in traditional and modern medicine. Additionally, the document identifies challenges in studying lichens in certain regions and presents findings on the antibacterial potential of specific lichen extracts.
LICHENS AND HUMAN WELFARE
- 1. LICHENS AND HUMAN WELFARE Mamta Bhat, Departmentof Botany, School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, BGSB University, Rajouri (J & K) K) National Conference on Current Developments and Next Generation Lichenology 27 – 28 January, 2018
- 2. Lichens More than 700extra cellular secondary metabolites isolated from 5000 lichen species which are very important in lichen systematics Classical example of symbiosis where fungi (mycobiont) lives in intimate association with green algae (photobiont) or cyanobacteria. Pronounced lie’ken, derived from the Greek word Λειχήν meaning tree moss Importance – as pioneers, paedogenesis, dyes, cosmetics, food and fodder, as Biomonitors, yield a number of medicines and help in climate change studies Resulting thallus neither resembles the two, lacks any protective, conductive and assimilatory tissues such as epidermis, xylem, phloem and roots 30,000 lichen species reported worldwide covering 8% of land surface
- 3. Lichen Algae Fungi (Photobiont) (Mycobiont) Fungi Algaeor Cyanobacteria
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- 5. antibiotics allelochemicals Antioxidants Analgesic/ antipyretic activity UV B protection Antiherbivore activity Metal homeostasis Cytotoxic, antitumour, antiviralactivity Allergens Pollution tolerance Biological activities
- 6. As food andfodder Species Common name Country of Use Cetraria islandica Island lichen Scandinavian countries Umbilicaria esculenta Iwatake North America Umbilicaria muhlenbergii Iwatake North Africa and deserts of W.C.Asia Lecanora esculenta Manna lichen North Africa and deserts of W.C.Asia Ramalina sinensis Cartilage lichen Nepal and India Peltigera canina Dog lichen India Bryoria fremontii Black lichen North America and British Columbia
- 7. Lichen in SiddhaMedicine Reference Agathiar Gunappaadam Basic Siddha Medicine book explaining nature of herbs in the form of Hymn Siddha Vaithiya Pathaartha Guna Villakkam Sri Kannusamy Pillai B. Ratthina Nayakkar & Sons 26, Venkatrama St Chennai 79
- 8. • Usnea species- hair problems, headache, malaria, toxic snake bites, thyroid tumours and cancer therapy. • Umbilicaria esculenta contains anti-HIV substances. • Parmelia as blood nourishing herb, benefits vision defects, promote diuresis. • Xanthoria parietina - jaundice. • Peltigera canina - rabies. • Cetraria islandica - cough remedy. • Letharia vulpina (wolf lichen) - stomach disorders. (Omnigran a. Granobil, Usnagren A and T, Lipo kinetix, Ab solution plus, Lipoburn, Usno) As medicines
- 9. LICHEN BASED PRODUCTSIN MARKET
- 10. As Dyes • Roccellamontagnei yields red and purple dyes (LITMUS PAPER). • Pertusaria corallina and Ochrolechia tartarea yields purple dye. • Parmelia omphalodes yields brown dye Roccella montagnei Ochrolechia tartarea
- 11. As Perfumeries Everniaprunastri (Oakmoss lichen) Pseudevernia furfuracea (Tree moss) Ramalina spp. ingredients in soaps cosmetics after shave lotions perfumes
- 12. Rajouri–Poonch belt constitutesperipheral part of the gigantic Pir–Panjal mountain range and is largely montane
- 13. Challenges • Inaccessibility ofterrain. • Insurgency and resultant insecurity. • Lack of primary data to correlate with the data being raised now.
- 14. Antimicrobial assay Xanthoparmelia congensisDermatocarpon vallereum
- 15. Findings of thestudy: i) Acetone extracts of the Xanthoparmelia congensis possess antibacterial potential against Staphylococcus aureus. ii) The present work can be a reference point for such similar future studies in the region. It could contribute to determine various antimicrobial agents extracted from lichens to be used as therapeutic agents against various pathogenic organisms.
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Editor's Notes
- #6 Lichens produce a variety of extra-cellular secondary metabolites in either an amorphous form or as crystals. These compounds occur only in lichens and are known as lichen substances. More than 700 such compounds have now been isolated from nearly 5000 lichen species.
- #7 As food and fodder: Dermatocarpon miniatum, Umbilicaria esculenta are used as soup or in salads. In Japan, it is considered a delicacy (Iwatake). Spices mixture of Parmelia, Heterodermia, Pyxine and Physcia are used as flavours to prepare Biryani from “Kashmir to Kanyakumari” Cladonia rangiferina, C. alperstris and C. sylvatica, Cetraria, Stereocaulon and Alectoria.
- #9 1. Parmelia spp. are used in wound healing in parts of Eastern Ghats, India. 2. The Okanagan-Colville made a weak tea of Letharia vulpina to treat internal problems, and it was a Blackfoot remedy for stomach disorders
- #10 Parmelia perlata -Antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties Confido* is a non-hormonal therapy acting through the neuro-endocrine pathway, regulates the process of ejaculation. 3. Speman promotes spermatogenesis by improving the testicular, seminal vesicle and epididymal functions. 4. V-Gel possesses antifungal, antibacterial and anti- inflammatory properties, effective in the treatment of vaginitis and cervicitis.
- #11 0. Under the combined influence of ammonia and oxygen, lecanoric acid and erythrin in Roccella montagnei give orcin and subsequently orcein, which are the colouring matters of orchil and which, in the presence of sodium or potassium carbonates, form azolitmin and erythrolitmin (colouring matters of litmus) Lichen acids were the source of important dyes for cotton and wool in medieval Europe. 2. Two purple and red dyes, orchil and cudbear, were obtained from the lichens Roccella and Ochrolechia. 3. Lichen dyes were dissolved in human urine, and the yarns were immersed in this mixture. 4. Ammonia salts in the urine functioned as mordants to make the dyes permanent
- #12 1. Harvested - south-central Europe, sent to France where it is used in the manufacture of fine perfumes. The lichen acts as a fixative for other scents, and also adds a subtle herbal fragrance of its own.
- #15 Antimicrobial activity of the lichens Xanthoparmelia congensis and Dermatocarpon vallereum were determined on the basis of the presence and absence of the zone of inhibition against the test organisms. The areas of inhibited bacterial growth were observed as the clear zones around the disc dipped in a particular lichen extract placed on the bacterial culture. Antimicrobial activity was measured as the diameter of the zone of inhibition, excluding the diameter of the disc as given in table