Antioxidant Activity and Mechanisms of Action of Natural Compounds Isolated from Lichens: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases are characterized by an enhanced state of oxidative stress, which may result from the overproduction of reactive species and/or a decrease in antioxidant defenses. The search for new chemical entities with antioxidant profile is still thus an emerging field on ongoing interest. Due to the lack of reviews concerning the antioxidant activity of lichen-derived natural compounds, we performed a review of the antioxidant potential and

Anti-angiogenic and antiproliferative properties of the lichen substances (-)-usnic acid and vulpinic acid

“…Certain lichen secondary compounds (ca. 1000 presently known) derived from fungal metabolism have antimicrobial, antiviral, antiprotozoal, antiproliferative, antitumor, antiinflammatory, anti-pyretic, analgesic, photoprotective, enzyme inhibitory and anti-angiogenic properties [4][5][6][7][8]. Usnic acid, a dibenzofuran derivative, is one of the most frequent and most studied lichen metabolites [9].…”

Secondary metabolite arsenal of an opportunistic pathogenic fungus

“…Our previous transcriptome analyses revealed that simultaneous contributions of multiple A. fumigatus SMs are likely during colonization of the mammalian host niche [87] whereby comparative analysis of A. fumigatus gene expression in laboratory culture versus the lungs of neutropenic mice during initiation of growth revealed coordinate upregulation of BGCs 5,8,7,12,20,24 and 25 during infection of the mammalian lung. Despite the technical complexity of the experimentation, the boundaries of BGCs were clearly delineated, adding weight to the relevance of their clustered groupings to transcriptional regulation.…”

“…The connection of oxidative stress with BGC activation is, in fact, so common in fungi [5][6][7] that several reviews address the protective nature of fungal SMs and their possible use as oxidative treatments in human disorders [8,9].…”

Chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities and evaluation of cytotoxicity of the fractions obtained fromSelaginella convoluta(Arn.) Spring (Selaginellaceae)

“…The effectiveness of most antioxidant agents is generally proportional to the number of hydroxyl (OH) groups present in their aromatic ring(s). Hence, the natural compounds would seem to have better antioxidant activity than the currently used synthetic antioxidants, making them particularly attractive for the food and the pharmaceutical industry [38,39].…”