Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-ws8qp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T08:09:27.958Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Antimicrobial, Antiviral and Cytotoxic Activity of New Zealand Lichens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2007

Nigel B. Perry
Affiliation:
Plant Extracts Research Unit, New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Ltd, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Michael H. Benn
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
Nerida J. Brennan
Affiliation:
Plant Extracts Research Unit, New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Ltd, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Elaine J. Burgess
Affiliation:
Plant Extracts Research Unit, New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Ltd, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Gill Ellis
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
David J. Galloway
Affiliation:
The Retreat, Teviot Rd, RD 2, Roxburgh, New Zealand.
Stephen D. Lorimer
Affiliation:
Plant Extracts Research Unit, New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Ltd, Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Raymond S. Tangney
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Abstract

A total of 69 species of lichens have been collected from various locations around New Zealand. Screening of extracts of these species for antimicrobial, antiviral and cytotoxic activity showed a high proportion with biological activity. Active extracts were generally from species known to contain phenolic compounds. Bioactivity-directed isolation work on Cladia retipora, Pseudocyphellaria glabra and P. homoeophylla led to the identification of usnic acid as the main antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antiviral component in these three species.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Lichen Society 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)