Allelopathic effects of some lichens on growth and antioxidant activities of in vitro propagated Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst

Abstract

The effects of Dermatocarpon miniatum and Parmelia saxatilis lichens on growth, total phenolic, total flavonoid contents and antioxidant potentials of in vitro medicinal plant Bacopa monnieri were investigated. B. monnieri was treated with different concentrations of methanolic and aqueous extracts of D. miniatum and P. saxatilis lichens. Total phenolic, total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of B. monnieri that showed the best growth with lichen application and control plant were investigated. Methanolic extract of allelopathic plants showed strongest DPPH scavenging (IC50: 27.60 mg/L) and metal chelating activities (IC50: 120.29 mg/mL) compared to the control. Also the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of allelopathic samples for both extracts had significantly (p < 0.05) higher compared to the control group. Among the whole experimental group, the highest total phenol (93.71 µg gallic acid equivalent/mg extract) and flavonoid (68.34 µg quercetin equivalent/mg extract) contents were detected in methanolic extract of allelopathic plant.