Therapeutic Applicability of Fruticose Lichens: A Brief Review on Pseudevernia furfuracea
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Abstract
The distinctness in the chemical profile of fruticose lichens marked their versatile applications from culinary, dyeing, to modern therapeutics. Pseudevernia furfuracea, commonly known as Tree Moss, has been used from the Ancient Egyptian era to the Modern World. It has exemplary applicability in embalming the dead bodies and has also been used in perfume-making industries. It is a rich source of distinct bioactive constituents reported to exert different Pharmacological activities. Constituents, including depsides, depsidones, orsellinic acid derivatives, pulvinic acid derivatives, aromatic polyketides, and phenolic acids, have been identified in the species via chromatography and spectroscopic approaches. It has been reported to exhibit anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, enzyme-inhibiting, and antifungal activities. Apart from its reported bioactivities, its biomonitoring potential further strengthens the significance of this species.
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