title: Ecological implication of variation in the secondary metabolites in Parmelioid lichens with respect to altitude.
abstract: Lichens are known to synthesize a variety of secondary metabolites having multifunctional activity in response to external environmental condition. Two common lichen extrolites, atranorin and salazinic acid, are known to afford antioxidant as well as photoprotectant nature depending on the abiotic/biotic stress. The present investigation aims to study the influence of altitudinal gradient on the quantitative profile of atranorin and salazinic acid in three lichen species, Bulbothrix setschwanensis (Zahlbr.) Hale, Everniastrum cirrhatum (Fr.) Hale and Parmotrema reticulatum (Taylor) Choisy, Parmeliaceae using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique. Samples were collected from high-altitude area, usually considered as non-polluted sites of Garhwal Himalaya. Characterization and quantification of the lichen substances in samples were carried out comparing with the standards of atranorin and salazinic acid. Results indicated significant variation in the chemical content with the rising altitude. All the three lichen species showed higher quantities of chemical substances with the altitudinal rise, while among the three lichen species, E. cirrhatum showed the highest quantity of total lichen compounds. The higher abundance and frequency of E. cirrhatum with increasing altitude as compared to B. setschwanensis and P. reticulatum may be attributed due to the presence of higher quantity of photoprotecting/antioxidant chemicals especially salazinic acid. Thus, the present study shows the prominent role of secondary metabolite in wider ecological distribution of Parmelioid lichens at higher altitudes.
authors.affiliation: Lichenology Laboratory, Plant Diversity Systematics and Herbarium Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, India. vertika_shukla@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Vertika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.affiliation: Analytical Chemistry Laboratory and Regulatory Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, India. dkpatel@iitr.res.in.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Lichenology Laboratory, Plant Diversity Systematics and Herbarium Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bajpai
authors.affiliation: ICT Department, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Semwal
authors.affiliation: Lichenology Laboratory, Plant Diversity Systematics and Herbarium Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, India.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Upreti
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D012459:Salicylates / Q000378:metabolism*; D064210:Secondary Metabolism; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D007783:Lactones; D012459:Salicylates; C116675:salazinic acid; C026304:atranorin
keywords: Aspect; Ecological adaptation; Lichens; Microclimatic condition; Secondary metabolites