Characterisation of phenols and antioxidant and hypolipidaemic activities of Lethariella cladonioides

Abstract BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and hypolipidaemic activities of an ethanol extract of Lethariella cladonioides (Nyl.) Krog (EE) and to characterise its chemical constituents. RESULTS: Nine phenols were identified as canarione, thamnolic acid, squamatic acid, vermicularin, norstictic acid, baeomycesis acid, lecanoric acid, barbatinic acid and usnic acid from analysis of EE by using high‐performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector‐mass spectrometry. In antioxidant analysis in vitro , the highest scavenging rate of EEs on the 2,2′‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide was 81.55 ± 1.95%, 81.84 ± 4.00%, 74.28 ± 3.71% and 74.28 ± 3.71%, respectively. Meanwhile, after administration of EE for 6 weeks in high fat/cholesterol diet mice, the most significant reduction in levels of serum triglyceride, serum total cholesterol, serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol and liver malondialdehyde were 24%, 20%, 15% and 35%, respectively. The most significant increase in levels of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol and liver superoxide dismutase was 35% and 88%, respectively. CONCLUSION: L. cladonioides possesses strong antioxidant and hypolipidaemic activities. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry