Abstract
Melanins are universal biopolymers, the main biological function of which is to protect living organisms from adverse factors. Interest in these dark pigments arises due to the prospects for their use in medicine, cosmeceuticals, bioremediation, bioelectronics, and other fields. In this work, a complex scheme was developed to isolate melanins from the lichen Leptogium furfuraceum (Harm.), which is a symbiotic extremophilic organism. Screening of the conditions for the extraction of melanin, its subsequent precipitation and purification made it possible to isolate three samples of melanin with a total yield of 7.5% of the dry matter of the lichen. It was established that all isolated melanins have a polyaromatic structure, they contain carbohydrates and proteins, the content of which, depending on the conditions for melanin isolation, is 7.3–9.9% and 13.5–32.7%, respectively. Among the isolated melanins, melanin, which is a water-soluble fraction of acid-precipitated melanin, displays the highest antioxidant activity. This melanin, unlike other melanins, is almost fully soluble in distilled water, 95% ethanol, 99% dimethyl sulfoxide, and phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The differences in solubility, antioxidant activity, and chelating capacity of isolated lichen melanins make it possible to determine potential areas for their practical use.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
