Investigation of Squamarina cartilaginea species distributed in Turkey in terms of biological activity

In this study, antimicrobial, antioxidant activities and cytotoxic effects of Squamarina cartilaginea species distributed in Turkey were investigated by methanol extract. In addition, the protective effects of DNA have been studied. The amount of usnic acid was determined by the HPLC method and was found to be 451.637±0,00 mg/gekstre. The highest total phenol content was determined as 44,72±4,67 mgGAE/gekstre, and the total flavonoid content was determined as 30,10±3,28 mgCAE/gekstre. DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil) and ABTS [2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzenothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] methods were used for antioxidant activity, and it was determined that Squamarina extract had moderate antioxidant capacity. Disc diffusion method was used in the investigation of antimicrobial activity, Squamarina extract showed the highest antimicrobial activity as 17.5 mm for Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus strains, while the lowest activity was 9.0 mm for Proteus mirabilis and Enterobacter aerogenes strains. Cytotoxic activity was determined by MTT test on DU 145 (Human Prostate Cancer Cell Line) and COLO 285 (human colon cancer cell line) cell lines. The highest activity in Du 145 cancer cell line was observed at 1000 µg/ml concentration with 12,837±0.71% viability. It was determined that the extract showed high toxicity even at the lowest concentration in the Colo 285 cell line. While 16.97±0.48% viability was observed at 1000 µg/ml concentration, 33.16%±2.01% viability was measured at 3.906 µg/ml concentration. At the same time, the DNA protective effect of the studied sample was determined using pBR322 plasmid DNA.