title: Comparative analysis of the antioxidant properties of Icelandic and Hawaiian lichens.
abstract: Antioxidant activity of symbiotic organisms known as lichens is an intriguing field of research because of its strong contribution to their ability to withstand extremes of physical and biological stress (e.g. desiccation, temperature, UV radiation and microbial infection). We present a comparative study on the antioxidant activities of 76 Icelandic and 41 Hawaiian lichen samples assessed employing the DPPH- and FRAP-based antioxidant assays. Utilizing this unprecedented sample size, we show that while highest individual sample activity is present in the Icelandic dataset, the overall antioxidant activity is higher for lichens found in Hawaii. Furthermore, we report that lichens from the genus Peltigera that have been described as strong antioxidant producers in studies on Chinese, Russian and Turkish lichens also show high antioxidant activities in both Icelandic and Hawaiian lichen samples. Finally, we show that opportunistic sampling of lichens in both Iceland and Hawaii will yield high numbers of lichen species that exclusively include green algae as photobiont.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 34 Rainbow Drive, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA.
authors: Kehau
authors: K
authors: Hagiwara
authors: Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 106, Freiburg, D-79110, Germany.
authors: Patrick R
authors: PR
authors: Wright
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 34 Rainbow Drive, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA.
authors: Nicole K
authors: NK
authors: Tabandera
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 34 Rainbow Drive, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA.
authors: Dovi
authors: D
authors: Kelman
authors: Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 106, Freiburg, D-79110, Germany.|BIOSS Centre for Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, D-79104, Germany.
authors: Rolf
authors: R
authors: Backofen
authors: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Hagi, Hofsvallagata 53, Reykjavik, IS-107, Iceland.
authors: Sesselja
authors: S
authors: Ómarsdóttir
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 34 Rainbow Drive, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA.
authors: Anthony D
authors: AD
authors: Wright
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D006254:Hawaii; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants