Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
South African Journal of Botany, cilt.193, ss.65-75, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Lichens have been used in raditional medicine for various diseases since ancient times, and their rich repertoire of secondary metabolites is attracting increasing attention in pharmaceutical and biomedical research for today's needed natural resources. In this study, a broad spectrum of biological activities of ethanol and ethanol:water (7:3) extracts of three macro-epiphytic species, Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach., Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf., and Usnea florida (L.) F.H. Wigg., abundant in highland forest ecosystems in Türkiye, were comparatively investigated for the first time. Multiple analyses were performed, including total phenolic content, antioxidant (DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC), antibacterial, antibiofilm, antifungal, antiurease, anti-Alzheimer's, and antidiabetic effects. Usnic acid (UA) content levels of the extracts were measured by HPLC analysis equipped with diode array detector. The results revealed distinct solvent dependent differences in bioactivity. Antioxidant activity was consistently higher in ethanol:water (7:3) extracts, while enzyme inhibitory assays also indicated strong activities across species. All lichen extracts, specifically tested against human pathogens, exhibited the most pronounced antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus epidermidis (E. prunastri MIC 0.02/0.04 mg/ml and P. furfuracea MIC 0.02/0.05 mg/ml), with P. furfuracea showing the highest antibiofilm potential. Overall, these findings highlight the significant bioactivity potential of these lichen species, contributing to the discovery of bio-sources of new pharmaceutical and therapeutic products.