Phytochemical Profiling and Antibacterial Efficiency of Hypotrachyna cirrhata and Parmotrema tinctorum Lichen Extracts from Madhyamaheshwar Valley, Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand

Lichens, symbiotic associations of fungi and algae, have long been utilized in traditional medicine and various industrial applications due to their rich bioactive compound diversity. In this study, we investigated the phytochemical profiles and antibacterial activities of extracts from two lichen species, Hypotrachyna cirrhata and Parmotrema tinctorum, collected from the Madhyamaheshwar valley, Uttarakhand, India. Phytochemical screening revealed distinct secondary metabolite compositions in chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol extracts of both lichen species. The extracts of Hypotrachyna cirrhata contained flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins and phenols across different solvents. Among these, the ethanol and methanol extracts exhibited the highest diversity of constituents and demonstrated the most effective antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Parmotrema tinctorum extracts similarly showed a range of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins and phenols, with ethanolic extracts displaying potent antibacterial activity against both bacterial strains. All lichen extracts demonstrated significant antibacterial potential. These findings underscore the importance of solvent selection in extracting bioactive compounds from lichens, influencing their phytochemical composition and antibacterial efficacy. Further exploration of specific active compounds and their mechanisms could enhance the therapeutic applications of these lichen species as natural antibacterial agents.