Antimicrobial Potential of Usnea longissima Ach. Lichen Against Human Pathogens

Lichens are a symbiotic association between a fungus and algae and/or cyanobacteria. Lichen use as food and dye source, air pollution indicator, medicinal and decoration.  In this study, antimicrobial activity of ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of Usnea longissima Ach. lichen was searched by disc diffusion method. While inhibition zones ranges from 14.5 mm to 24.5 mm for bacteria, inhibition zones ranges from 10 mm to 32 mm for fungi. Lichen extracts exhibited higher activity than gentamicin and tetracycline but they showed similar activity to nystatin. The MIC values of the extract varied between 0.002-0.117 mg/mL against bacteria; while The MIC values of the extract varied between 0.004-0.059 mg/mL against fungi. According to the obtained results, it could be said that U. longissima might be an alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents.

Usnea longissima Ach. Likeninin İnsan Patojenlerine Karşı Antimikrobiyal Potansiyeli

Likenler bir mantar ve bir alg ve/ya da siyanobakteri arasındaki simbiyotik birlikteliklerdir. Likenler besin ve boya kaynağı, hava kirliliği indikatörü, tıbbi ve dekorasyon amaçlı kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Usnea longissima Ach. likeninin etanol ve etil asetat ekstraktlarının antimikrobiyal aktiviteleri disk difüzyon metodu ile araştırıldı. Bakteriler için inhibisyon zonları 14.5 mm ve 24.5 mm arasında değişirken; mantarlar için 10 mm ve 32 mm arasında değişmektedir. Liken ekstraktları gentamisin ve tetrasiklinden daha yüksek ve nistatine benzer aktivite göstermiştir. Ekstraktların bakterilere karşı MİK değerleri 2-117 µg/mL arasında değişirken; mantarlara karşı MİK değerleri 4-59 µg/mL arasında değişmektedir. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre, U. longissima’nın sentetik antimikrobiyal ajanlara alternatif olabileceği söylenebilir.  

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